Legal Question in Criminal Law in Indiana

Last night I was arrested for public intoxication. I blew a 0.22 BAC. I am an 18 year old student at Purdue University with no record and no past legal issues. When I was intoxicated, I did not cause any trouble or annoy anyone. I was just talking to my friends. Decided to go get some coke to drink and as I was walking cops showed up behind me. I did not argue with them or anything. I followed the procedure. I am applying for my green card and this could seriously hurt my chances of getting one. I was born from Africa with no laws against drinking. I was raised in New York with no laws about public intoxication. Can I plead ignorance because I did not know they could arrest you for being drunk in public unless if you appear as if you are going to drive or you are harassing/vandalizing or just causing trouble. I am sure they forgot to tell me my miranda rights before handcuffing me. Would this affect anything? Is there way I could not have this arrest stick on my record since this my first time dealing with the police?


Asked on 3/03/13, 6:40 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jay Rigdon Rockhill Pinnick LLP

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Contact an attorney in your community about a posible diversion agreement in lieu of a conviction. Miranda rights are unlikely to enter into it.

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Answered on 3/04/13, 9:05 am


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