In Scotland we get one with basic information. Mainly rubbish really but was good to have something. It has the number for a charity that helps with SO's and their families. I got one based around the loved ones, my husband had one based on the offenders. It's called "Still Reeling?" It's a bit of an unusual term really I reckon if it had been something like"just arrested" it would have been a bit better!

I remember when my son was arrested we had no idea what to do, where to go. Yes, we had lawyers and they gave us no direction. I did not even know I could go to the county jail where he was and put money on his account. It was days by the time they let him call me, it was the worst time of my life. We do not come from a "prison" family with experience with all of this. Being a sex offender you need a sex offender expert lawyer, not just anyone. That I still believe was my sons downfall. Sure we had very high profile lawyers - but not the right ones and cost us a fortune to get a very high sentence in the end.
I would of loved to been able to talk to someone to walk us through the process. Not like you can contact AA and talk to someone.

So yes, I am all for a "brochure" to give to the family when the loved one is arrested - it would of helped me!

I would include in it the number to the local defense bar for each state.

I do like the idea of an outline of what is going to happen next. I don't know if you will ever get the police to pass something out that says under no circumstances should you talk to us without your attorney lol.

I would definitely put in the brochure, that if they are going to hire an attorney, that theyay want to find an attorney who has experience defending that particular charge.

Maybe even list questions that could be asked to help them find the right attorney for them. I didn't know what questions to ask when I was calling around.

Westy,

Your brochure should have information such as this explained in detail in laymen's terms.

http://tinyurl.com/njeavww

The problem I see is how do you plan to get these to the offender and his family? For some reason, I doubt that anyone in law enforcement will routinely pass out any of these brochures.

A person in LE like Grady Judd is not going to pass them out or even help. True, there are few Grady Judds in this world, but handing out these brochures will not be a priority to most people in LE.

The method of getting them to the people is as important as the brochure itself.

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The main problem is the best thing to tell a person who is just starting the process is shut the heck up and don't talk to the police until you have had s chance to talk to your attorney. Which in indigent circumstances won't be until farther along in the process. I don't see police officers being willing to pass that information out. I think you are better off partnering with the defense bar or the public defenders office than the police.

I always said I wish our lawyers gave us something to read in the beginning...nothing.

Perhaps information about the interstate compact?