The top ten things to know when dealing with authority:
1) YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TALK TO THE FBI AGENTS, THE POLICE, OR ANY INVESTIGATORS. You do not have to talk to them on the street, at your place of work, if you've been arrested, or even if you're in jail. Only a judge has the legal authority to order you to answer questions.
2) YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LET THE FBI OR POLICE INTO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE UNLESS THEY HAVE A SEARCH OR ARREST WARRANT. Demand to see the warrant. The warrant must specifically describe the place to be searched and things to be seized. They are not allowed to search in places that the objects they are looking for cannot fit into.
3) IF THEY DO PRESENT A WARRANT, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TELL THEM ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. You have a right to observe what they do. You should take written notes of what they do, their names, badge numbers, and what agency they're from. Have your friends who are present act as witnesses.
4) IF THE POLICE OR FBI TRY TO ENTER YOUR HOME WITHOUT A WARRANT, JUST SAY NO. The police are very skilled at manipulating and getting information from people, so attempting to outwit them is very risky. You can never tell how a seemingly harmless bit of information can hurt you or someone else.
5) ANYTHING YOU SAY TO A FBI AGENT OR COP MAY BE USED AGAINST YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE. Once you've been arrested, you cannot talk your way out of it. Don't try to engage the cops in a dialogue or respond to their accusations. Silence is your best strategy.
6) YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REVEAL YOUR HIV STATUS TO THE POLICE, JAIL PERSONNEL, OR FBI. If you are charged with interfering with an officer by biting, scratching, spitting, or transferring any bodily fluids on a cop, a judge may order that you take a blood test and your HIV status may be revealed to others. If you've been arrested, you should refuse to take a blood test until you've been brought before a judge and have a lawyer.
7) YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THREE TELEPHONE CALLS if you've been arrested on state charges and booked into jail. Within three hours of your arrest, you have a right to free local calls to a lawyer, a bail bondsman, and a friend or relative. Demand your right to make those calls.
8) LYING TO AN FBI AGENT OR OTHER FEDERAL INVESTIGATOR IS A CRIME.
9) THE FBI MAY THREATEN YOU WITH A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA IF YOU DON'T TALK TO THEM. They may give you a subpoena anyway, so anything you tell them may permit them to ask you more detailed questions later. You may also have legal grounds to refuse to answer questions before a grand jury. If you are given a grand jury subpoena, you should call a lawyer immediately or contact the National Lawyers Guild. You should also tell movement groups and your friends about the subpoena, and discuss with them how to respond. Do not try to deal with it alone.
10) IF YOU ARE NERVOUS ABOUT SIMPLY REFUSING TO TALK, YOU MAY FIND IT EASIER TO TELL THEM TO CONTACT YOUR LAWYER. Once a lawyer is involved, the FBI and police usually back off because they've lost their power to intimidate.
