YOUR C.L.A.S.P. TEAM.......Simple. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been given so that we have the rights that we have and as important as these rights might be there are times when we have to make sacrifices and the maintenance of law and order and protection of our family is one of those times.
Law Students Advise Youth On Their Rights When Dealing With Police
With more and more unsolved murder cases being hampered by the street-level code of silence that can intimidate entire communities, police seem to have a hard enough time when it comes to gathering crucial information. That's why they were so perturbed when they learned a group of law students have been handing out a pamphlet in the troubled Jane and Finch area called "Survival Tactics: Dealing With Police."
One section reads; "It's no secret, however, that police often cross the line in both obvious (Rodney King) and hidden ways (racial profiling.)"
Police weren't pleased with the King reference and believe the pamphlet, prepared by the York University Community and Legal Aid Services Program (C.L.A.S.P.), is offensive, saying it helps to create an adversarial relationship between youth and police.
"They make a number of rather insulting assumptions about the police, aside from some questionable legal advice," said Mark Pugash, Toronto Police.
The pamphlet's authors, who offer free services to people in the Jane-Finch community, say police and youth in the area are already at odds, and they're simply trying to educate students about their rights. They also say they're planning to remove the reference to King.
"It's always unfortunate when good work is portrayed in a way that is unfair, and I think that's happened here," said Glenn Stuart Dir., C.L.A.S.P.
You're a victim of a crime or you've committed one. Or you wander into a crime scene and immediately ignite police suspicions. They want to question you. Do you have to answer? It's a query many are asking, as cops trying to solve some murders in the city have wound up getting very little cooperation.
The bottom line is that for better or worse, police can't force you to talk to them if you don't want to - even if you're under arrest. They're allowed to stop you for a variety of reasons - if they think you've committed a crime, if they see you doing it or if you're driving and they suspect you're under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Under the law, they have to tell you why they're detaining you and you have to be given the right to speak to a lawyer after a reasonable amount of time.
But can you remain silent? You do have that right and many lawyers recommend it. You also aren't required to answer any of their questions if they stop you while you're driving. But if you've done nothing wrong and know you're innocent, talking to the cops is the best way to relieve their suspicions and let you leave the scene.
If they ask for your name, make sure you tell them who you are and don't give them a phony one. If they later need to contact you and find out about the deception, you could be charged with obstructing police. But remember, like in all those infamous TV dramas, anything you say can be used against you in court.
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