system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5- Why can someone be arrested for refusing to answer questions from police, but the first thing a person is told when arrested is that they have the right to remain silent?
gpt
I think it's usually "arrested after refusing to answer questions".  They didn't get arrested for "failure to answer police questions" because that's not a crime in the US.  The police can arrest you any time they suspect you've committed a crime.  If they ask you questions and your answers convince them that you did not commit the crime, you avoid being arrested.  **HOWEVER,** that's the most risky approach.  It's much safer to get a lawyer, your answers won't be any more convincing without a lawyer, and you might convince them that you did commit the crime, **plus** "Anything you say can be used against you".

Getting arrested isn't the end of the world, in the US you're still innocent until proven guilty.  Make them work for their proofs.