How to Flex Your Rights During Police Encounters

Flex staffers Steven Silverman (center) and Scott Morgan (right) after a ride-along with MPD's Sgt. Brett Parson

Steven Silverman, Executive Director

Steven Silverman is the founder of Flex Your Rights (Flex). He's the creator of Flex's original video, BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters and co-creator of their newest video, 10 Rules for Dealing with Police.

He was previously a campus organizer for the campaign to repeal the Higher Education Act's aid-elimination penalty. The law blocks financial aid to low-income students reporting drug convictions. As part of his work, Silverman prompted students to describe the details of the police stops and searches leading to their minor drug arrests. A disturbing pattern emerged, and various legal and law enforcement experts confirmed his conclusion: The vast majority of people are mystified by the basic rules of search and seizure and due process of law. Consequentially, they're likely to be tricked or intimidated by police into waiving their constitutional rights.

Frustrated by the lack of innovative and accessible know-your-rights information, Silverman developed this website and lectured at conferences and universities. Playing the role of "Officer Friendly," Silverman donned a cop uniform and engaged volunteers in typical police situations. The use of role-playing lectures greatly enhanced the know-your-rights educational experience, but a more versatile and cost-effective approach was needed.

In 2003, Flex secured funding to create BUSTED. Flex has independently distributed 25,000 DVD copies, and BUSTED it's one of the Internet's most popular advocacy videos, reaching more than 3 million viewers. It's also regularly screened in hundreds of college and high school classrooms as well as a host of other community and civic groups, including police instructors, student and community activists, civil libertarians, gun rights and religious groups.

Based in Washington, DC, Silverman has been a vocal opponent of new policing schemes that violate citizens' Bill of Rights protections. Successes include decisive victories against Mayor Fenty's so-called Safe Homes Initiative and an attempt by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to implement random searches of Metro passengers.
 

Scott Morgan, Associate Director

Scott Morgan is the co-creator of 10 Rules for Dealing with Police. He maintains the Flex Your Rights blog and oversees the organization's response to new legal rulings and events.

Morgan first became interested in the field of criminal justice during high school when two of his friends were arrested for similar marijuana offenses. One was white and faced almost no consequence. The other was black and was sentenced to a juvenile detention facility where he was assaulted by other inmates. These events led Morgan to question the fairness of the criminal justice system, as well as the efficacy of administering harsh punishments to young people who commit minor offenses.

As a student at Guilford College, Morgan was named "Outstanding Senior" in the Criminal Justice Department. Resisting the call of law school, he felt he could do more by sharing his knowledge of the law with others. Joining Flex as a summer intern, he soon became a valuable partner in the creation of the organization's first DVD, BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters. 

In addition to his work with Flex, Morgan is editor of the Speakeasy, a leading drug policy blog. He also enjoys cooking Mexican food, bird watching and guitar.