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Rights During Detention - What You Need to Know

Detention directly restricts one of the most important constitutional values - personal freedom. In a democratic state, it is essential to ensure that every person who is suspected or detained has a real opportunity to exercise their rights. For the protection of the rights of detainees to be effective, these rights must be known and applicable in practice, which is why we recommend familiarizing yourself in advance with the content of the rights of the detainee.

October 8, 2025
Rights During Detention - What You Need to Know

Main Rights During Detention

  • Right to Know the Reason for Detention: the detainee must be clearly informed of what they are suspected of.

  • Right to Counsel: from the moment of detention or the first interrogation, the detainee can request the assistance of a lawyer.

  • Right to Remain Silent or to Testify: the detainee has the right to testify, but they are not obliged to do so and can exercise the right to remain silent or refuse to provide testimony about a crime they may have committed.

  • Right to Inform Consular Authorities and a Person: the detained person can inform one person or their country's consular authority.

  • Right to an Interpreter: if a person detained in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania does not understand the Lithuanian language, they must be provided with oral and written translation.

  • Right to Medical Assistance: the detainee has the right to request urgent medical assistance if there is a threat to their health/life.

  • Right to Be Informed About the Duration of Detention: the detainee must be informed of the maximum time their freedom can be restricted until the start of the case hearing. The maximum duration of temporary detention is forty-eight hours.

What Do These Rights Mean in Practice?

Generally, this has real consequences for both the course of procedures and the ability to defend oneself effectively:

  • Duty to Inform provides the detainee with a basis to understand the charges and seek counsel.

  • Participation of Counsel from the first interrogation ensures proper protection of the detainee's interests.

  • Provision of Interpreter and Medical Assistance protects against health or language barriers hindering the defense.

  • Knowledge of Maximum Detention Time provides a tool to challenge possible violations of the detainee's rights and demand fair procedures.

Practical Tips in Case of Detention

  • Stay calm and clearly demand an explanation of the reason for detention.

  • Immediately request a lawyer and refuse to testify without their presence (if you believe it is beneficial to you).

  • If health issues arise or you do not understand the language - request medical assistance and an interpreter.

  • Inform one trusted person about the detention to initiate the search for a lawyer.

Conclusions

The rights during detention are fundamental procedural guarantees that ensure a fair and transparent process and protect personal freedom from arbitrary actions. It is important that the detainee not only knows their rights but also has real opportunities to exercise them: to have counsel, to understand what they are suspected of, to receive medical assistance, and to be informed about the duration of detention. If you have been detained or believe your rights may have been violated, immediately contact a lawyer, as this is an essential and often decisive step in defending your rights.