Prosecutors are oftentimes able to obtain criminal convictions because of mistakes made by an accused individual. One of the biggest missteps that people make when they’re under criminal investigation is speaking with the police. So, if you’re being contacted by the police, then you need to be cognizant of why talking to them probably isn’t in your best interests.
The top reasons why you shouldn’t talk to the police
There are a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t talk to the police. Here are some of the most important ones that you should keep in mind:
- The police can’t help you: In a lot of criminal cases, investigators lure you into a false sense of security by telling you that they can talk to the prosecutor for you to make things easier if you cooperate, or you may think that if you can convince the police that you’re innocent then they’ll leave you alone and convince the prosecutor to do the same. But regardless of what you say, the police probably aren’t going to believe you. By talking to them, you’re simply putting yourself at risk of saying something that will be used against you.
- Statements can be taken out of context: Even if you’re innocent and have nothing to hide, law enforcement officers may misconstrue what you say, leaving them with the impression that you have more information than you’re sharing or that you’re guilty of the alleged crime.
- The police are always looking for guilt: It’s in the way that they’re trained. So, even if they buddy up to you and appear as if they’re just looking for some help, they’ve got their eyes and ears alert for any whiff of suspicion. So, if you come across wrong, you could end up on the receiving end of accusations of criminal wrongdoing.
- You have the right to remain silent: Remember that you’re not compelled to talk to the police, regardless of what they tell you. And if you’re being interrogated while in custody, meaning that you’re not free to leave, then the police should read you your Miranda rights so that you’re well aware of the ability to remain silent and have an attorney by your side.
- The police can lie to you to get you to talk: This is a common strategy utilized to get people to talk. The police might claim that they have a witness who saw you doing something incriminating, or they may state that there’s some piece of physical evidence in their possession that shows that you were at the scene of a crime. Don’t buy into this. You shouldn’t believe anything that the police say to you until you talk to your attorney first.
- The police can’t negotiate with you: Even if the police say that they’ll go easy on you if you cooperate, that’s not really a decision they can make. That’s a choice left to the discretion of the prosecutor. So, don’t be duped by false promises made by investigators.
Consider having an attorney by your side every step of the way
There’s simply too much on the line for you to move forward with your case without an aggressive criminal defense strategy. That’s why if you suspect that you’re under investigation for criminal wrongdoing, then now may be the time for you to discuss the circumstances of your case with an attorney if you want to get a jump on protecting your rights, your interests, and your freedom.