Alberta Basic Security Training (ABST) Practice Exam 2025

When you arrest an individual, what option do you have regarding communication?

1. To inform them they cannot use a phone

2. To tell them to call their lawyer

3. To insist that they cannot contact anyone

4. To allow them to only contact family

The correct answer is: To tell them to call their lawyer

When an individual is arrested, informing them that they can contact their lawyer is a critical component of their rights. This aligns with the legal principle of providing access to legal counsel, which is essential for ensuring that the individual can receive proper legal representation and understand their rights. Allowing the person to call their lawyer is significant because it helps them to discuss their situation and prepare a legal strategy. This right is generally protected to ensure that individuals are not deprived of their ability to defend themselves or to receive legal advice regarding the charges they face. Other options do not uphold the rights of the individual. Not allowing phone calls or insisting they cannot contact anyone or only permitting contact with family members could infringe upon their legal rights and diminish their ability to receive necessary legal support during the arrest process.