There’s a good chance that the prosecution is going to have physical evidence to present against you in your criminal case. However, you’d be surprised by the number of individuals who end up convicted because they talk themselves into trouble when interacting with the police. In many of these instances, accused individuals talk to the police in hopes of dispelling any suspicions, which then backfires on them.
So, if you think that you’re under investigation for criminal wrongdoing, you need to know how to protect your interest when interacting with the police. Your best bet is to remain silent. After all, you have rights that protect you from self-incrimination, and the police are required to inform you of your right to remain silent if you’re being subjected to custodial interrogation.
Tricks the police use to try to get you to talk
When you do come face to face with the police, though, you need to know some of the tactics that they use to try to get people to talk, especially if you’re not informed of your right to remain silent. Let’s look at some of those strategies that police use:
- Trying to befriend you: In many instances, investigators act friendly towards you and simply ask for help clarifying certain information. Don’t be duped into a false sense of security here. It can only lead to trouble.
- Lying to you about evidence: Another effective strategy deployed by the police is deception. They’re allowed to lie to you about evidence that they have against you, which may trick you into making an admission that you otherwise wouldn’t make. So, don’t take the police at their word, and take everything they say with a grain of salt.
- Threatening you: Sometimes, the police become aggressive in their attempt to get you to talk. They may become verbally threatening, or they may even promise to use physical force against you if you don’t talk. These tactics are coercive and often illegal.
- Making promises: The police might also offer to go easy on you if you agree to talk to them. They may promise lesser charges or lighter penalties, but they don’t really have this power. The prosecutor is the only one who can give you these deals, and then you should get those promises in writing before agreeing to make a statement.
- Asking leading questions: These are questions that tend to provide you with the answer. For example, saying “You were at the gas station last night, right?” is a leading question because it suggests that you were at the gas station without you even giving that indication. These questions are easy to agree to, especially when asked in a high-stress situation. That’s why it’s an effective tool that the police can use to get you to talk.
There are other techniques that the police can use to try to get you to talk. It’s important to remember that you always have the right to remain silent. And your silence doesn’t equate with guilt.
Consider having an advocate on your side
Interacting with the police can be dangerous. That’s why you should do everything you can to protect your interests. This includes considering whether you can benefit from having a legal ally by your side. By having a criminal defense advocate in your corner, you may be able to prevent the police from exploiting you and using you to their advantage, which very well may protect you from criminal charges or criminal conviction.
To learn more about how a Kansas City, Missouri attorney may be able to help you in your case, please consider reaching out to a team that you feel will zealously advocate on your behalf.
