What to do if You're Being Arrested

Nobody thinks an arrest will happen to them. However, it can be easier than you might think to accidentally land on the long side of the law. Perhaps the police have been called over an argument at home, or a traffic accident. Whatever the reason, you should know what to do if you are arrested so you don’t make the situation worse. Consider an arrest another emergency that you should know how to deal with. 

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If you are being arrested, try not to panic. Remember that you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, but these rights can only protect you if you use them. If you are arrested, keep quiet until your lawyer arrives. 

What is an arrest?

If a police officer takes you into custody, then you have been arrested. An officer will take you into custody when you are not free to leave. An arrest may mean being taken to jail,  but the arrest itself actually begins much earlier. If you have been stopped and questioned and are not free to end the questioning, you are under arrest. 

An officer can only arrest you if:

• They see you commit a crime
• They have probable cause to believe that you have committed a crime
• A judge or magistrate has issued a warrant for your arrest

Don’t use force

In the vast majority of cases, you do not have the right to resist arrest, even if the arrest is illegal. If you try to resist and use force, you can be charged with resisting arrest or battery of an officer, which only makes things worse. If you think your arrest is unlawful, cooperate and wait for your lawyer. 

Know what to expect

You will be searched, either at the scene or at the jail, and any evidence or items you are not allowed will be taken. You will be photographed and fingerprinted. 

If you are arrested and questioned, you must be informed of your legal right to remain silent and be helped by an attorney. If you waive these rights, anything you say can be used against you in court. Sometimes you will be asked to sign a waiver before talking. This is almost never a good idea. Instead, indicate that you understand, then wait for your attorney before saying anything further. 

Invoke your rights

Remember your right to remain silent until you have a lawyer present. Tell the officers that you wish to remain silent and want to speak to a lawyer. After you’ve done this, be quiet. It’s easy to start talking and accidentally say something incriminating that can cause you problems later.

You can tell the police your name and other basic information, like your birth date and address, but don’t tell them anything else without an attorney present. After your arrest, you shouldn’t speak to police offers, or to anyone else about your case, including other inmates, or your family. 

Police are trained to get information, and other inmates may try to get details from you that they can use as a bargaining chip in their own case. Assume that any conversations you have with any visitors or over the phone are being monitored. However, the conversation you have with your lawyer is confidential. 

Call for help

You should be entitled to a phone call, to your family, an attorney, or a bail bondsman like Bad Boys Bail Bonds. Memorize the numbers of a few people to call in the case of an arrest. You will probably not be allowed to use your own phone to make these calls, so you will need to know the numbers. 

Get legal help

Being arrested is stressful and unpleasant. People just want to make the problem go away and can think that they can just explain the situation, the police will let them go. This is rarely the case, so don’t try and talk your way out of jail or make any choices about your case without speaking with your lawyer first. Don’t take part in a lineup or anything else until your lawyer arrives. 

If you are being arrested and charged with a crime, you are entitled to help from an attorney. Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney or the local public defender’s office to discuss your case. They will be able to tell you how your case is likely to fare in court and what to expect. Calling a good attorney is the best way to protect your rights and get the best possible outcome from your case. 

Cranking Up That Credit Score

When it comes to your financial health, we all know that it’s not just about cash flow, it’s also about our ability to access the cash that we need in the future, as well. In most cases, this means relying on your credit for mortgages, loans, and so on. However, your credit score and history can even come up when talking about things like trying to rent a house or find a job. For that reason, it’s worth following these tips to make sure you’re giving that credit score all the help it could use.

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Make sure you pay your bills on time

Your credit score is, effectively, a numeric representation of how reliable you are in credit agreements. This means not only your credit cards and loans but also things like regular bills. Fail to pay them on time on a regular basis and it can start to tank your credit rating. As such, be money smart, be sure to put aside what you need for your bills in advance, and consider having them paid out of your bank automatically if you have trouble remembering to do it.

Use and pay off credit

If you don’t have much of a credit history, you might find it hard to apply for some of the best credit cards and loans around. However, there are introductory offers for those who have a bad or low credit to get their foot in the door. Low-credit credit cards are a thing, as are Money 4 You Payday Loans. You have to ensure that you only take on loans or credit that you can reliably pay off, but it can help you start building the history that allows you to apply for things like house loans in the future.

Take a look at your credit report

You can request your credit report (also known as your credit history) from one of the three big credit companies at Annual Credit Report. In fact, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each have to provide your report at least once a year at your request. Here, you can look at your credit history to see if there are any mistakes or instances of potential identity theft that could see your credit score suffering through no fault of your own.

Don’t close unused credit cards or overdrafts

If you have a credit card or overdraft you’re not using, you might be tempted to close it but that could be a mistake. Your credit utilization is also factored into your score. I.e., the more you utilize your credit, such as how deep you are into your overdraft or your credit limit, the more it will negatively impact your credit score. On the other hand, having a low credit utilization score can be good for your overall credit.

Even if your credit score is low or you have no credit history to speak of, it’s important to know that it can recover completely. It just takes time and smart use of your credit in the future.

New Mom? This Back-Saving Guide can Help You

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Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! It’s an exciting time, with many adjustments, especially if you’re a first-time parent. One of the things you might not have considered about this next phase in your life is how it will affect your back. If it’s already sore, here is a guide to help provide some back relief for you.

Why Your Back is Hurting

To help alleviate those backaches involves first assessing the cause of the issue. It’s not a coincidence that you’re sore and just had a baby; the two are related.

Here are a few problems that could be triggering your back pain:

• Picking up baby incorrectly
• Poor posture while breastfeeding
• Not resting the back
• An unrelated reason to baby

If this list is an eye-opener, please don’t let it overwhelm you. Don’t assume you can’t still carry your precious son or daughter either.

Instead, take the time to learn safer techniques and proper back care. The tips below can help you!

See a Chiropractor

A recent study suggests that chiropractic care for lower back pain can be more effective than the usual treatment of medications, PT, and self-care. While it was a trial, so the results cannot be generalized, the 2018 study is an example of how chiropractic sessions can lessen back pain and reduce the use of pain medicine.

Improving function and posture to help prevent the back pain from returning is an important part of chiropractic therapy. The total body chiropractic approach taken at Mind Body Spine addresses the root causes of the back issue, rather than only focusing on the pain symptoms, and addresses total body care.

Using Proper Lifting Techniques

Even a newborn can get heavy in your arms after a while. Then, add in the diaper bag you carry around when leaving the house, as well as moving the car seat in and out of the vehicle. Add on top of that any other stuff you’ll need to carry during the day.

To prevent a back injury or go easy on your back if you’re already feeling discomfort, then you’ll want to understand proper lifting practices. Firstly, as you lift the baby, make sure you bend from the waist.

Then, as you straighten up with the little cutie in your arms, keep him or her close to your body. Perhaps most importantly, use your legs to power your body back up.

Doing so will help to minimize any pressure on the back. While you’ll likely forget to follow this technique sometimes because routines have formed already, over time, it will become natural to lift with your legs. You’ll do so without thinking twice about it.

When Feeding Baby

The next time you feed the infant, check your posture. Are you slouching over?

While you’re likely doing that to bring your breast closer to baby, this move isn’t doing your back or spinal alignment any favors. Given how often you breastfeed the baby in a day, it’s vital to maintain a straight back each time.

Rather than hunching forward, instead, try to prop the baby up on a soft pillow to help bring her or him closer to your chest. That’s easier on the back than how you might have been doing it before.

Now you can maintain a straight back the whole time. You also might want to add a footstool to rest your feet and back while in the beautiful nursery.

When the Problem isn’t Baby-Related

In some cases, your backaches aren’t related to your role as a new mom. It might not be that you strained the back while caring for the baby.

Instead, the back issue could be symptomatic of something else. If you worry that is what’s happening in your life, make an appointment with your family doctor. This professional can help you assess the situation. He or she might recommend a specialist, such as a chiropractor, depending on your circumstances.

Conclusions on Back Pain as a New Mom

Treating chronic pain, whether it is in the back or another part of your body, is key to improving your quality of life. In addition to considering chiropractic therapy to help relieve back pain, you can start today to practice proper lifting techniques throughout the day.

Maintaining a straight back while breastfeeding is also important. Preventing back strain and injury will put you in good condition to play and care for the baby, along with your partner. If you feel overwhelmed or like the achy feeling is too much some days, reach out to your spouse for physical and emotional help.

How To Choose The Best Daycare For Your Child

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From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, you need to make on decision after another on how you’ll raise your child.  It’s never easy, and you’re constantly wondering if you’re doing the right thing.  

Choosing childcare is no different.  You want to ensure you’re child gets the very best care in a supportive and stimulating environment.  To give yourself the best chance of finding the perfect daycare, you’ll need to start looking early.  The best daycares fill up fast and can have long waiting lists.  

Here are some things to look out for when choosing a daycare center. 

A Great Reputation With Parents 

Parents are extremely particular about their childcare, so if you find a Daycare that gets rave reviews from parents from children who have previously attended, or still do, then you’ve struck gold.  

Ask around for recommendations and check online reviews on Google and Yelp too. If you don’t know many parents in the local area, find a Facebook group and ask there.  

Good Facilities & Necessary Licences 

A quality daycare has clean facilities and a strong health and safety policy.  Not all facilities have the luxury of a lot of space but they should not be overcrowded.  

When you visit be sure to ask what safety measures they have in place including fire, hygiene, and building security.  

Each area will have its own laws regarding what licenses, qualifications, and insurance a daycare needs to have.  Ask to see all of the relevant paperwork and seek assurances that all staff are fully qualified and screened to work with children. 

Stimulating Activity Program 

Even if your child is still very young, they need to be in an environment that will stimulate them and help their physical, mental and social development. Ask them what a typical week looks like in terms of games, physical activity, stories, and free playtime.  

Is Supportive Of Your Parenting Choices

Within reason, a daycare center should respect your wishes with regards to certain decisions and seek to replicate them.  For example, if you choose not to use a pacifier, they should not use one to settle your child.  If you are potty training at home using a particular technique, then they should use the same one to avoid confusing your child.  

If they are inflexible on these issues then you are going to run into problems down the line.  

Healthy Food Choices

A healthy, varied diet in early life is one of the best starts you can give your child.  It reduces the risk of childhood obesity and a number of life-limiting conditions at a later date.  Ask to see what a typical menu looks like.  It should be filled with healthy choices with only the occasional treat.  

Don’t Ignore Your Intuition 

If something looks great on paper but you’re not quite comfortable with it, then take notice of your gut instincts. Visit on more than one occasion.  If you still can’t put your finger on what’s wrong, then keep looking.  This is too important a decision to get wrong. Don’t settle and add this to your existing mom guilt. 

Keeping Your Kids Occupied at Home

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We’re living through unprecedented times. Around the world, people are being encouraged to socially distance and socially isolate as a result of the spread of coronavirus and Covid-19. Now, it’s our role to follow guidelines to reduce the spread of the virus and keep as many people as safe as possible. This can be difficult for anyone. But when you have kids off school and at home, it can be a really challenging time. Kids can experience boredom really easily and, if left unchecked, this can begin to manifest itself as bad behaviour. But not to worry. There are a number of different things you can do to keep your children occupied at home. Here are a few different areas to focus on.

Education

First things first, many of us will be worried about how we’re going to help our kids keep up with their education. At the end of the day, you shouldn’t worry too much. All kids in the area will be in exactly the same position and education will be picked back up as and when everyone returns to school. But there are a few things you can do in order to keep their knowledge and skills up to scratch. The best route to go down will depend on your child’s age. For little ones, handwriting exercises, reading exercises and basic number problems can be great. For older kids, you can set projects. If you have kids on the verge of adulthood, they might want to start preparing for college applications with MyGREExamPreparation.

Games

Kids love games. The good news is that there are plenty of different games out there that can be enjoyed indoors! If you already have board games or jigsaw puzzles at home, this is a great place to start. You can also try other games, like sleeping lions, hide and seek and “What’s the time Mr Wolf?”.

Arts and Crafts

Kids also tend to love arts and crafts activities. All you need are a few basic materials and their imaginations will run wild. Some things to try out could include:

• Making mosaics
• Drawing
• Colouring in
• Potato prints
• Macaroni art
• Making cards
• Making bookmarks
• Making plasticine models

TV and FIlms

We don’t tend to like leaving our kids in front of the television set for extended periods of time. But the odd TV show or film could be great for them. It keeps their imaginations ticking over and introduces them to new worlds! Many kids shows are also educational, helping with letters, numbers, colours, animals and more! 

It really can feel difficult to keep your kids occupied for such a long period of time. They usually have school, friends, clubs and extracurricular activities to focus their minds on. But stay positive. This could prove to be some great bonding time that can bring you together closer as a family!