Nwi Police Blotter (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to answer police questions in Indiana? ›

You do not have to talk to the police.

It is good to have an attorney help you decide what you should or should not tell the police.

You do not need to answer any questions if you are detained or arrested, except that the police may ask for your name once you have been detained, and you can be arrested in some states for refusing to provide it. (Non-citizens should see Section IV for more information on this topic.)

Do I have to answer questions asked by law enforcement officers? No. You have the constitutional right to remain silent. In general, you do not have to talk to law enforcement officers (or anyone else), even if you do not feel free to walk away from the officer, you are arrested, or you are in jail.

You have the right to remain silent. For example, you do not have to answer any questions about where you are going, where you are traveling from, what you are doing, or where you live. If you wish to exercise your right to remain silent, say so out loud.

When a police officer asks where you are coming from, they are looking for evidence to support the possibility that you have or are committing a crime or whether or not you are a threat to public safety. This creates a baseline that they will later write down in a police report.

If police knock on your door and they don't have a warrant, then you do not have to answer the door. You are well within your rights to ignore the person at your front door whether they hear you inside or not and whether they're a police officer or not.

Reasonable suspicion means that the officer can explain why a crime has likely occurred, and point to reasons for that conclusion. For a detention to be valid, those reasons must be convincing to another person looking at the facts and conclusions at a later time.

If a police officer cannot articulate a good-faith belief that you have broken the law, he can request that you identify yourself, but you do not have to provide identification. If a police officer believes you have broken the law and as a result demands to see ID, you are required to provide identification.

Reasonable Force and Reasonable Belief

While Indiana's stand-your-ground law, modeled off the Castle Doctrine, is quite clear on the fact that Hoosiers may exercise the justified use of force when acting in self-defense; it's critical to also know the limits and extent of this law.

Keep your hands where police can see them. Only give police your license and registration after they ask you to. If the police ask you to exit the car, you must do so.

Are terry stops legal in Indiana? ›

Stop and Frisk (Terry Stop) – An officer is authorized to make a Terry Stop when the officer observes conduct which leads him reasonably to conclude in light of his experience that criminal activity may be afoot and that the person(s) with whom he is dealing may be armed and dangerous.