Don't Give the Police Your Cell Phone.

Know This

• They do NOT need a warrant to seize it initially—only to search it.
• They may hold it as "evidence" while they seek a search warrant.
• Even if you refuse to unlock it, they can still attempt to break into it later.

Know This

• Even innocent messages or photos can be taken out of context.
• Location data can place you at the wrong place at the wrong time.
• Contacts and call logs can make you look connected to people under investigation.

Know This

• They might say, "Just unlock it so we can verify your alibi."
• They may falsely claim, "If you have nothing to hide, why won't you let us look?"
• Some officers have even been known to physically press a suspect's thumb against the phone's fingerprint scanner.

Know This

• Officers often seize phones in the hope of finding something useful later.
• If they seize your phone, they often hold it while they look for a reason to keep it. It's always easier for them to justify the seizure after the fact than to actually get a warrant.
• If they find anything remotely suspicious, they may use it to justify an arrest or further investigation.

Know This

• Leave your phone with someone you trust before going to the station.
• If they ask where your phone is, simply say: "I don't have it with me."
• If they try to take it, say: "I do not consent to any searches."
• If they already have it, call a lawyer immediately.