If you have been arrested, the police believe you committed a crime. Their job is to investigate and gather evidence. Telling the police your side without a lawyer present is usually a bad idea, even if you believe you have done nothing wrong.
Always pay close attention to what happens when you first encounter the police and afterward. Try to memorize who was there to see and hear what happened. Sometimes the court needs to look into what happened to you while you were in custody. It will help you if you can later fully inform your counsel about these events.
Do not tell your family and friends all about it or ask non-lawyers for legal advice. It is possible that they may be ordered to appear at trial to repeat what you said. Do not talk to another inmate or a corrections officer about your case. A conviction may result from a “jailhouse confession.”
What are my rights in court?
- Not guilty means you do not give up any of your rights, including the right to a trial. If you are in doubt, plead not guilty.
- No contest means you admit the facts in the complaint are true, but you deny guilt. The judge may find you guilty or not guilty. (A no contest plea cannot later be used against you in a civil lawsuit for money damages. Anyone who later sues you over the incident must prove you were at fault and violated the law.) Most no contest pleas result in a guilty finding unless the arresting officer has cited you under the wrong statute or ordinance, or if the arresting officer’s written statement of facts fails to sufficiently support the charge.
- Guilty means you admit the crime(s) of which you are accused and waive (give up) your right to a trial, where the prosecution would have to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. You also give up your right to remain silent. The judge may sentence you immediately or at a later hearing. A guilty plea can later be used to prove you were at fault in a civil lawsuit. A guilty plea can also lay the basis for a harsher punishment if you are later convicted of another offense.
Source: https://www.ohiobar.org/ForPublic/Resources/LawFactsPamphlets/Pages/LawFactsPamphlet-21.aspx