Below are some tips that you should follow if a police officer approaches you in school:
- Stay calm. Don't argue, resist, run away, or interfere with the officer, even if you think she or he is wrong. The most important thing to do in that moment is to stay calm and safe.
- You can ask calmly if you're free to leave. If yes, calmly and silently walk away.
- If a police officer tells you that you're not free to go, you should not walk away. She or he may require you to identify yourself.
- Know that you do not have to answer questions or make a statement: you have the "right to remain silent" and can answer any question by saying, "I want to remain silent." You also do not have to write or sign a statement. If you choose to speak or write about what happened, your words can be used against you.
- If a school official or officer wants to search your belongings you can tell them that you do not consent to the search. This means you do not give permission for the search. They may search your belongings anyway, but it is important to tell them that you do not agree to being searched.
- You can ask for a parent or guardian to be called. You may be told that a parent or guardian cannot be called in that moment, but you should ask as many times as you'd like.
- If you think you want to make a statement, you can also ask to have a lawyer, a parent, or another adult present before you are questioned. If you talk, your words can still be used against you.
- Let an adult you trust know what happened. If you're hurt, see a doctor and take pictures of your injuries.
- As soon as possible, write down or record everything you remember (like the officer's badge number and name, who else was there, and what happened). You should also ask your friends or peers who saw what happened to write down or record what they remember.