Questions from ovesea cop

[Gaston]

Hey There!
Im a 26 year old cop from Germany.
A few days ago we had to arrest a guy from Afrika who only spoke english.
But we didn´t know how to tell him his rights in english.

So for the next time i would like to know what u tell people when you arrest them
and what you have to tell when you question witnesses or suspectet or accused persons.
I might have to change it a little to fit our laws, but i think its mainly the same.

Thanks

btw: if anyone interested in exanging patches or something like that, pm me

[Deputy757]

What state are you from in Germany?

[Gaston]

I´m from Niedersachsen, i guess its called "lower saxony" in english. Its in the mid- to northern part of Germany.

[Oldbillplod]

I don't understand, your English is easy to understand so why don't you convert what you normally tell a suspect into English?

[Gaston]

well, there are so many words, that im not sure of if they´re right in that context... These are words i normally don´t use in english.

And I to make a sheet for me and maybe others on the police station where i work, with translations for these words... like words, that you normally don´t need as a german speaking english, but could be needed working as police dealing with foreign people.
Well and one section should be the "telling of rights" thing (i dont know the word for that), and i just want to make sure its all correct.

[P01IC3M4N]

you have the right to remain silent and not make any statements.
anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
you have the right to have an attorney present prior to and during any interview and questioning by any peace officers or attorneys representing the state.
if you cannot afford an attorney, one may be appointed to represent you at no cost.
you have the right to terminate any interview and questioning at any time.

[CTDL92]

If it is a crime which would require you advising them of their rights would you not probably have to contact the consulate of their country? If so they should be able to provide an interperator. I know of one investigation I was involved in where a Mexican migrant worker was arrested for an attemtped homicide and we had another trooper come in who was fluent in spanish. He was able to conduct interviews with witnesses and the suspect but when he had to advise him of his rights he had to play a tape recorded version to the suspect.

[121Traffic]

Maybe you could post the rights as they are read in German, and a resident German speaker could try their hand? I imagine that they might be a bit different than the ones we use.

[Joeyd6]

Gaston,

If you PM your address, exactly how it appears on a envelope, I will gladly send you one of the cards we carry here in New York City with Miranda on it. I will also send you a patch if you want!

-Joe

[Old Trooper]

Hmmm....I am a bit comfused here, maybe I missed something. I thought the "Miranda" warning we give is based on Constitutional rights people enjoy in the U.S. Why would a German police officer be concerned about that? Even if the person he arrests is an American citizen, "Miranda" does not apply in a foreign country.

[dwf]

I was wondering the very same thing. I routinely am involved with people from both Canada and Mexico, have arrested and booked as well. I don't know poop about either countries individual rights and don't much care.

[121Traffic]

Like I said...he needs to post how they are read in German, and those can be translated. It does no good to translate our Miranda into German for him, unless they are the same rights read over there.

[Gaston]

Hmmm....I am a bit comfused here, maybe I missed something. I thought the "Miranda" warning we give is based on Constitutional rights people enjoy in the U.S. Why would a German police officer be concerned about that? Even if the person he arrests is an American citizen, "Miranda" does not apply in a foreign country.

no of course not... but our suspects have roughly the same rights i think.
They dont have to talk, they hace the right to contact a lawyer, etc.
I could simply pick out the stuff i can use, I would just like to see which words you use.
Since i wanted to give this to other german cops it should be as correct as possible, thats why i tried that way in contacting you guys instead of making my own translations.

Thanks so far for your answers.

[Joeyd6]

Looks like he is going to take our miranda and translate it into German.
Them compare teh US vs. German.
Then if possible, re-translate their German back into proper English.

In the mail Gaston!

[Gaston]

hehe nah..
I thought ill just read it and take away the parts we dont need and keep the parts that match ours.
If i wanted to re-translate i could simply translate ours *g*