How to Flex Your Rights During Police Encounters

Steven Silverman, Executive Director

Steven Silverman is the founder and executive director of Flex Your Rights (FYR). He is also the writer and executive producer of FYR's original video, Busted: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters.

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 "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, FYR secured funding from the Marijuana Policy Project grants program to create Busted. FYR has overseen independent distribution of nearly 20,000 DVD copies, and it's one of the Internet's most popular advocacy videos, reaching more than 2.5 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.

Silverman is currently developing 10 Rules for Dealing with Police, a new FYR video focused on the concerns of communities of color. Starring legendary Baltimore trial lawyer William "Billy" Murphy, Jr. as narrator, the video is scheduled for release in the fall of 2009.