Survivors Guide to Prison Page #2

they want to know?

- Demand they release you.

- Scream?

- Argue.

- Maybe even fight.

There are a number

of citizen watchdog groups...

Who observe and record

police misconduct.

Their advice

is to always be polite.

Never engage with an aggravated

or confrontational officer.

First of all,

you disrespected me,

this badge, and my department,

you understand me?!

When I'm talking to you,

you shut your mouth!

Ask, "Am I being detained,

or am I free to go?"

It's just it's unusual behavior,

is what we're getting at.

[man] I'm assuming

I'm being detained.

Am I being the detained

or not?

- You can go, sir.

- Thank you.

If you're not being detained,

leave immediately.

If you are being detained,

the police can legally lie

to you.

So, don't get into

any conversation

or start answering questions,

just ask for an attorney.

If you're arrested,

never talk to anybody

without an attorney there.

[Matthew] Susan Mellon

was 42 years old

in Gardena California

when she was accused

of a murder she didn't commit.

The detective

assigned to the case

was relying on the testimony

of one witness.

The whole case hinged

on the word of one person,

June Patty,

and everything June Patty said

was inconsistent

with every other lead.

Every single lead

put three gang members

in the house...

and no women.

[Susan] I was pleading

that I was innocent.

[woman's voice]

When I left my daughter there,

I just remember telling her

that, "Don't worry, baby,

I'll be back for dinner."

[Matthew]

Susan's daughter, Jessica.

She said to me that she

was gonna be home for dinner,

and she was home

17 years later.

[Susan] Not seeing my children,

that was very hard on me.

For all those years,

I'm still broken.

My heart's still broken

from everything I went through.

It's... I don't know,

it's just so scary.

It was the worst nightmare

of my whole life.

The bottom line is you have

a right to be silent.

Keep your mouth shut

because those words

will be used against you.

To survive and interrogation,

you've got to be ready

to stand your ground...

against bullying, aggression,

and intimidation.

No matter how intimidating

they get,

just say,

"I want to speak to a lawyer."

And I hope you can afford

a good one.

I didn't have

an adequate attorney.

It was a drive-by shooting that

took place in East Los Angeles.

I looked like

the actual shooter.

I "resembled"

was the correct word.

I served approximately

nine years

and eight months in prison.

[Matthew] If you don't have

an adequate attorney,

your entire future

rests in the hands

of a detective assigned

to your case.

The words of Bruce Lisker

were used against him.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes