“A deadly story, best left untold”
Fighting a police officer can end in serious injury or death. It is a story no one should ever have to tell.
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For readers ages 9 to 17
Glossary
The words, laws, and phrases from MAKIN’ IT HOME, explained in plain language. Read them with a parent, guardian, or group leader and talk about what each one means for you.
Acrostic
A poem or list where the first letter of each line spells a word. In this book, the letters of MAKIN’ IT HOME each start one rule.
M is for “Movements, be careful.”
Aim
To point something at someone. Pointing anything, even a phone, a finger, or a toy, can be mistaken for a threat.
Rule A: Aim nothing.
Amendment
A change or addition to the Constitution. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights.
“Any time, place, or season”
Always, no matter when or where. Running from police is never a good idea.
Page 16
Argue
To disagree with someone in an angry or heated way.
Page 22: “Tussle not, nor argue.”
Arrest
When police take a person into custody because they believe the person broke the law. Being arrested does not mean you are guilty.
Attitude
The way you feel and act toward others, shown in your face, your voice, and your body. A tough or rude attitude can make a stop worse.
Page 9: “Leave that attitude alone.”
Attorney (or lawyer)
A person trained in the law who gives legal advice and speaks for you in court.
Badge number
A number on an officer’s badge or uniform that identifies them. You can calmly remember it, or ask for it later, so a parent can follow up.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution. They protect freedoms like speech and religion, and rights for people stopped or accused by police, such as the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments.
Body camera
A small camera an officer wears that records what happens during a stop.
Calm
Peaceful, steady, and in control, even when you feel nervous or upset.
Rule M: Make yourself stay calm.
Charge
A formal statement that says a person is accused of a crime.
Citation (or ticket)
A written notice from an officer that says you broke a rule, like speeding. It may mean paying a fine or going to court.
Civil rights
Rights that protect people from being treated unfairly because of their race, religion, sex, disability, or other parts of who they are.
“Cloud your mind”
When something, like drugs or alcohol, makes it hard to think clearly.
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Combative
Ready to argue or fight.
Page 6
Command
An order or instruction someone gives you, such as “step out of the car” or “show me your hands.”
Commotion
Loud noise, confusion, or a lot of fuss.
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Communities of color
Neighborhoods and groups made up mostly of Black, Latino, Native American, Asian, or other non-white people.
Page 1
Complaint
A formal report that says an officer acted wrongly. A parent or guardian can file one later with the police department. A stop is never the time to argue.
Consent
Saying yes, or giving permission. You can calmly say, “I do not consent to a search,” but never physically stop an officer who searches anyway.
Constitution
The highest law of the United States. It sets up the government and lists many of the rights people have.
Conviction
When a court decides a person is guilty of a crime.
Cop
An everyday word for a police officer.
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“Costs you nothing”
Staying calm through a short stop doesn’t cost you anything. Fighting it could cost you a lot.
Page 20
Crime family
A group of organized criminals that works together like a business, led by a boss.
Page 9
Criminal record
A list of a person’s arrests and convictions. Employers, landlords, and colleges may check it, and it can follow an adult for life.
Curfew
A time when someone must be home, or a local law that says young people must be off the streets by a certain hour.
Custody
Being held by the police and not free to leave.
De-escalate
To calm a situation down. Staying calm, quiet, and polite helps de-escalate.
Detainment
Being held by police for a short time while they ask questions or check something. You are not free to leave until they say so.
Page 20: “A brief detainment costs you nothing.”
Detective
A police officer who investigates crimes and gathers clues to solve them.
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“Don’t let the moment take you”
Don’t let strong feelings in a tense moment decide what you do.
Page 17
Drug trafficking
Buying, selling, or moving large amounts of illegal drugs.
Page 9
Drugs and alcohol
Substances that change how your brain and body work. They make it harder to think clearly and stay calm, and having them can lead to arrest.
Page 30
Emotions
Feelings, like anger, fear, sadness, or joy.
Page 30: “They cloud your mind and mess with your emotions.”
Encounter
A meeting with someone, often one you did not plan. A police encounter is any time an officer stops, questions, or talks with you.
Engrave
To carve something so deeply it stays forever. Engraving the rules on your heart means learning them so well you never forget them.
Rule E: Engrave these rules upon your heart.
Enraged
Extremely angry, so angry it is hard to think clearly.
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Escalate
When a situation gets more tense, louder, or more dangerous. Arguing, yelling, or running can escalate a stop.
“Every word can be a snare”
Anything you say can be used against you, even if you mean well. That is why the book says to stay silent if you are arrested.
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Expungement
A court process that clears or erases certain records. The rules are different in every state.
Fatherless
Growing up without a father in your life. The book says following an officer’s commands may feel strange for some kids, and that obeying still keeps you safe.
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FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. government agency that investigates serious crimes across the country.
Page 9
Felony
A serious crime that can lead to more than a year in prison.
Fifth Amendment
The part of the Constitution that says you do not have to say things that could be used against you in a criminal case.
Fleeing
Running away or trying to escape.
Page 16: “Fleeing makes things worse.”
Foul language
Cursing, swearing, or rude and nasty words.
Page 14: “No cursing. No foul language.”
Fourth Amendment
The part of the Constitution that protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
Frustrated
Upset because things are not going the way you want.
Page 6
Guardian
An adult who is legally responsible for caring for a child, such as a parent, grandparent, or other family member.
“I want to remain silent. I want a lawyer.”
The exact words to say, calmly, if you are arrested. Then stop talking until a lawyer is with you.
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Identification (ID)
A card that shows who you are, such as a driver’s license, state ID, or school ID. Tell the officer where it is before you reach for it.
In control
Being in charge of your own body, words, and feelings, even when things are tense.
Page 19: “Be in control of your behavior.”
In the heat (of the moment)
A time when feelings are strong and things are happening fast. It is when staying calm is hardest and matters most.
Incarceration
Being held in jail or prison.
Invoke
To call on or use something, like a right. You invoke a right by saying out loud that you are using it.
Page 12: “Invoke your 5th and 6th with care.”
“Invoke your 5th and 6th”
Use your Fifth Amendment right to stay silent and your Sixth Amendment right to a lawyer.
Page 12
“Is that a gun?”
In the book, an officer sees a phone or a pointed finger and thinks it could be a gun. It shows how fast something harmless can look dangerous.
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John Gotti
A famous New York mob boss who was convicted of murder and racketeering and died in prison in 2002. The book uses him as an example of an attitude to leave behind.
Page 9
Juvenile
Another word for a young person under 18. Juvenile court handles cases involving minors.
Keep quiet
Not talking more than you need to. In the memory device, the letter K stands for “Keep quiet.”
Rule K
Law
A rule made by the government that everyone must follow. Laws are different from state to state and city to city.
Law enforcement
The police and other officers whose job is to make sure people follow the law.
Dear Parents
Legal obstacles
Problems caused by an arrest or criminal record that can block jobs, housing, or school later in life.
Dear Parents
Loan sharking
Lending money at very high, illegal interest and threatening people who can’t pay it back.
Page 9
“Loved ones waiting by the phone”
Family and friends who worry and wait to hear that you are safe.
Page 31
Memory device
A trick that helps you remember something, like a rhyme, a song, or a word whose letters each stand for a step.
Page 2: “This memory device will help you remember the rules.”
Minor
A person under 18. Minors are often treated differently by the law than adults.
Miranda rights
The warning police must give before questioning someone in custody: you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can be used against you, and you have the right to a lawyer.
Misdemeanor
A less serious crime, such as some kinds of trespassing. It can still go on a criminal record.
Mistrust
A feeling of not trusting someone. The book says easing an officer’s fear or mistrust helps keep you safe.
Page 1
Mobster
A member of an organized group of criminals, sometimes called the mob or the mafia.
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Motion
Any movement of your body, big or small.
Movements
The ways your body moves. Sudden or fast movements, like reaching into a pocket, can look dangerous to an officer even when you mean no harm.
Rule M: Movements, be careful.
“Not the time to be like John Gotti”
A police stop is not the time to act tough, cocky, or disrespectful.
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Obedience
Doing what you are told. Obeying during a stop is a smart choice, not a sign of weakness.
Page 28: “Obedience isn’t weakness.”
Obey
To do what you are told. During a stop, follow the officer’s instructions calmly. If you think something was wrong, a parent or lawyer can deal with it later.
Rule O: Obey each command.
Officer
A person whose job is to enforce the law and keep people safe, such as a police officer, sheriff’s deputy, or state trooper.
Pat-down (or frisk)
When an officer quickly feels the outside of your clothes to check for weapons. Stand still and keep your hands where the officer tells you.
Patrol
When officers drive or walk around an area to watch for trouble and keep people safe.
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Permission
Being told yes before you do something. Ask the officer before you reach for your license, open a door, or move.
Page 6: “Ask for permission first before every motion.”
Plain sight
Where something can be easily seen. Keeping your hands in plain sight means the officer can always see them, like on the steering wheel or open in front of you.
Rule H: Hands in plain sight.
Polite
Speaking with respect and good manners. Saying “yes, officer” and “no, officer” and keeping a calm voice helps keep things calm.
Rule I: In speaking, stay polite.
PoPo
A slang word for the police.
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Pride
A feeling of self-respect. Too much pride can make it hard to back down, even when backing down keeps you safe.
Page 22: “Keep your pride and anger controlled.”
Prison
A place where people convicted of serious crimes are locked up, often for a long time.
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Probable cause
Stronger evidence that a crime likely happened. It is usually needed for an arrest or a search without a warrant.
Public defender
A lawyer the government provides for free to people who cannot afford one.
Pull over
To safely move your car to the side of the road and stop. Turn on the inside light at night, turn off the engine, and keep your hands on the wheel.
Racketeering
Running an illegal business or scheme, often using threats or violence, as part of an organized crime group.
Page 9
Rage
Very strong, out-of-control anger.
Page 30
Reasonable suspicion
A fact-based reason an officer believes a person may be involved in a crime. It is needed for a stop or a pat-down.
Resist
To fight against or refuse to go along with something. Resisting an officer, even if you think the stop is unfair, can lead to injury and new charges.
Rule I: In the heat, do not resist.
Resisting arrest
A crime in many states. Pulling away, running, or struggling while an officer arrests you can lead to this charge, even if the first stop was a mistake.
Respectful
Treating someone politely, with care for their feelings and their job.
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Right to an attorney
Your right to have a lawyer help you. You can calmly say, “I would like to speak to a lawyer and my parent.”
Right to remain silent
Your right not to answer questions. In some states you still must give your name when an officer asks. You can calmly say, “I would like to remain silent.”
Connects to Rule K: Keep quiet. Page 11: “Keep silent if arrested.”
Rights
Freedoms and protections that every person has under the law, no matter their age or where they live in the United States.
Ruthless
Cruel, without caring who gets hurt.
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Sealed record
A record that is hidden from most people. Many juvenile records are sealed, but adult records usually are not.
Search
When an officer looks through your things, your pockets, or your car for evidence.
Sixth Amendment
The part of the Constitution that gives a person accused of a crime the right to a lawyer, the right to a fair and speedy trial, and the right to know what they are accused of.
Snare
A trap used to catch animals. In the book, it means that anything you say could trap you later.
Page 11: “Every word can be a snare.”
Standard
The level of behavior people expect. In the book, it means being treated safely and fairly by police.
Page 1
Stillness
Staying calm and not moving around.
Page 6: “Let your calm and stillness show.”
Stop (or detain)
When an officer holds you in one place for a short time to ask questions or check something. You are not free to leave until the officer says so.
Sudden movement
A quick move made without warning, like grabbing at a pocket, jumping up, or turning fast. It can startle an officer.
Page 5: “Make no sudden movements.”
Surveillance
Watching someone closely, often with cameras or recordings, to collect evidence.
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Teflon Don
John Gotti’s nickname. Teflon is a non-stick coating, and “Don” is a title for a mob boss. Charges seemed not to stick to him, until the FBI finally convicted him.
Page 9
“The PoPo is on patrol”
The police are out watching the area.
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“The Talk”
The conversation many parents, especially in Black families, have with their kids about how to stay safe during a police encounter. This book is a guide for having it.
Dear Parents
Threat
Words or actions that say you might hurt someone.
Page 30: “No threats, no rage, no commotion.”
Traffic stop
When a police officer signals a driver to pull over, usually with flashing lights or a siren. This is the encounter teens are most likely to have once they start driving.
Tussle
A struggle or scuffle, like pulling away or wrestling. Never tussle with an officer.
Rule T: Tussle not.
Unscathed
Without being hurt at all.
Page 28: “It’s how you walk away unscathed.”
Visible
Easy to see.
Page 26: “Visible is how they must be.”
Warning
When an officer tells you that you broke a rule but does not give you a ticket or arrest you. Calm stops are more likely to end with a warning.
Warrant
A paper signed by a judge that allows police to search a place or arrest a person.
“You best be in control”
You had better stay in charge of your actions and feelings.
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“Your Momma needs to see you”
A reminder that your family is waiting for you to come home safe.
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No words match that search. Try a shorter word, or pick “All.”
Laws are different from state to state. This glossary explains general ideas to help families talk together. It is not legal advice. If you have a question about a real situation, a parent or guardian can contact a lawyer.