Washington, D.C. criminal defense lawyer Nabeel Kibria explains what you should do when the police want to interview you. He shares that one of the most common questions he hears is, “The police want to interview me—what should I do?” His answer is always the same: remain silent. He stresses that this is the number one rule in criminal law. When police read someone their Miranda rights—assuming they do as they should—the very first statement is, “You have the right to remain silent.” There is a reason for that, and it is the most important right to exercise.

If questioned by police, he advises saying as little as possible: ask, “Am I free to go?” If the answer is yes, leave. If the answer is no, then the only words that should follow are, “I need to speak to an attorney,” or, “I want to speak to my attorney.”