Immediate legal orientation
Criminal Investigation Emergency Toolkit
Choose what happened and receive a concise checklist of first steps, common mistakes, records to preserve and rights to discuss with counsel.
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What happened just now?
Choose the closest situation. The tool provides a general first-response checklist, not case-specific advice.
All eight urgent situations
This material remains available without running the interactive tool, making the initial guidance easier to find, share and cite.
Police interrogation summons
Do this first
- Record the investigator, unit, station, date and callback number
- Ask whether you are being questioned as a suspect or as a witness without giving a substantive account by phone
- Obtain individual legal advice before attending
Do not do this
- Do not coordinate accounts with anyone involved
- Do not delete messages, files or call history
- Do not guess or sign a statement before reading it fully
Rights and records
- Ask to be told the allegation
- Request consultation with counsel before questioning, subject to lawful limitations
- Ask to correct the written statement if it does not accurately reflect your words
- Summons or screenshot
- Short factual timeline
- Relevant messages, documents and potential witnesses
What may happen next
- The encounter may involve a cautioned interview, confrontation, device seizure or release conditions
- Your status and the allegations may develop during questioning
- Read every release condition and retain a copy
Police search of a home
Do this first
- Ask to see the warrant and check the address, validity and scope
- Do not physically obstruct the search; record names, times, rooms and seized items
- Request the search report and seizure inventory
Do not do this
- Do not conceal or destroy items or data
- Do not physically interfere
- Do not automatically consent to an expanded search without understanding the request
Rights and records
- Ask which legal authority supports the search
- Review the warrant where one is relied upon
- Request a record of seized items and note a reasoned objection in the report
- Warrant and execution report
- Seizure inventory, photographs and times
- Names of officers and witnesses
What may happen next
- Items and devices may be taken for examination
- Questioning or detention may follow
- Counsel can review the search and continued retention of property
A family member was arrested
Do this first
- Collect the full name, ID number, arrest time and last known location
- Find the station or unit and expected hearing time
- Prepare potential supervisors, an alternative address and essential medical documents
Do not do this
- Do not contact witnesses or complainants for the detainee
- Do not publish case details
- Do not pass messages between involved persons
Rights and records
- The detainee may request notice to a relative and consultation with counsel, subject to legal exceptions
- Continued detention is subject to judicial review and statutory time limits
- Report urgent medical needs
- ID and contact information
- Medication, prescriptions and medical summary
- Potential supervisors and their availability
What may happen next
- Police may release on conditions or seek an extension in court
- The hearing considers detention grounds, investigative needs and alternatives
- Relatives may be asked to attend as supervisors or guarantors
Police seized a phone
Do this first
- Request a seizure receipt and verify the device description
- Distinguish physical seizure from a search of contents
- Record whether consent, a passcode or biometric access was requested
Do not do this
- Do not remotely delete or alter data
- Do not provide a passcode before understanding the request and its basis
- Do not assume a fixed automatic return date
Rights and records
- Ask for the authority supporting seizure and search
- Receive a receipt describing the item
- Have counsel review return or scope-limitation options
- Receipt and any warrant
- Make, model, serial number and proof of ownership
- Record of consent request and response
What may happen next
- Consent or judicial authorization may be sought
- Forensic extraction may follow
- Counsel can review scope, necessity and return
Drug investigation
Do this first
- Identify the precise allegation and your status
- Keep all search, seizure and laboratory documents
- Seek advice before addressing ownership, knowledge, quantity or purpose
Do not do this
- Do not accept responsibility without understanding the facts
- Do not contact others to align accounts
- Do not delete communications, locations or payment records
Rights and records
- Consult counsel before questioning, subject to law
- Review search legality and chain of custody
- Access investigation material later through the applicable procedure
- Search and seizure records
- Relevant medical documents or authorizations
- Communications, payments and access information
What may happen next
- Laboratory tests, digital searches or confrontations may follow
- Quantity and circumstances may affect the allegation
- Release conditions or property retention may be addressed
Weapons investigation
Do this first
- Identify the item alleged and claimed location
- Document the search, seizure and persons with access
- Seek advice before addressing knowledge, control or connection
Do not do this
- Do not touch or move the item
- Do not coordinate accounts
- Do not publish images or explanations
Rights and records
- Consult counsel before questioning, subject to law
- Review search authority, seizure and evidentiary link
- Present a concrete detention alternative where needed
- Search and seizure records
- Ownership and access information
- Existing CCTV, location and communications data
What may happen next
- DNA, fingerprint, ballistics and phone examinations may follow
- Police may seek extended detention
- A detention ruling does not itself decide the main case
Lahav 433 investigation
Do this first
- Identify the unit, file, date and requested documents
- Map relevant entities, accounts, officers and transactions without altering records
- Obtain advice before questioning or producing documents
Do not do this
- Do not brief employees, partners or witnesses
- Do not make unusual transfers or delete business records
- Do not improvise an explanation for a complex transaction
Rights and records
- Consult counsel before questioning, subject to law
- Ask about your status and investigation subject where disclosure is permitted
- Review warrants, asset seizures and restrictions through proper procedures
- Summons, warrants and protocols
- Banking, accounting and contractual records
- Entity structure, officers and transaction timeline
What may happen next
- Multiple interviews, searches and asset seizures may occur together
- Publication restrictions, release conditions or asset restraints may follow
- Criminal, financial and regulatory defense may need coordination
Family-related restraining order
Do this first
- Read the distance, locations, contact restrictions and hearing date
- Comply exactly even if you dispute the order
- Preserve communications and arrange lawful collection of essentials
Do not do this
- Do not make direct or indirect contact
- Do not enter an excluded place or post targeted messages
- Do not rely on private consent that conflicts with the order
Rights and records
- Be represented and submit evidence in the proper proceeding
- Seek modification through the court, not self-help
- Receive a clear copy of the order or conditions
- Order, application and proof of service
- Messages, recordings and timing evidence
- Housing, work and essential-needs documents
What may happen next
- A prompt protection-order or release-condition hearing may follow
- An alleged breach may create a separate case
- Coordinate the criminal and protection-order responses
General information only
This tool does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Israeli law and the correct response depend on the specific facts and current orders.
Terms of useUrgent consultation
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For a situation-specific assessment, contact Advocate Ofir Sternberg.