We trust police officers to protect us and uphold the law. Most of the time, and in most situations, this trust is well placed. However, there are examples of untrustworthy and unscrupulous police officers, and there are even more examples of police officers using tactics like lying, deception, and manipulation to put people in prison – even when those people are innocent of the crimes of which they’re accused.
The truth is, you should never talk to the police without an attorney present, assuming you’re under suspicion of committing a crime. But why is this the case? And what should you do instead?
The Help of a Lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer is your most indispensable resource as you deal with being accused of a crime. Your lawyer is going to help you from the very beginning of the process, helping you understand the charges against you and the potential consequences you might face. They can represent you in interrogations and negotiations, giving you advice throughout the process and shielding you from unfair tactics. They can make sure all your rights are honored and respected. And of course, they can represent you in court if it comes down to that.
Your lawyer is going to make sure that the questions being asked of you are fair and straightforward. They’ll help you understand which questions you should and should not answer. They can even coach you on how to answer questions precisely and thoroughly without incriminating yourself.
Even if you’re totally innocent, you cannot afford to underestimate the value of a good criminal defense lawyer. Even if they can’t help you totally beat the charges against you, they should be able to help you avoid getting yourself into deeper trouble.
Why You Should Never Talk to the Police Without an Attorney
Why is it that you should never talk to the police without an attorney?
- You aren’t familiar with the law. First and most importantly, you probably aren’t familiar with the law. You might be familiar with certain types of common crimes, and you might have watched a lot of criminal procedural shows, but you don’t know the intricate nuances of criminal law, nor are you familiar with criminal proceedings in your state. A lawyer is an expert who is well acquainted with criminal law, and only an expert is going to be able to navigate this space effectively.
- Police officers can (and will) lie to you. Next, you should always remember that police officers can and will lie to you. There are no laws or rules against it, and because law enforcement officers are eager to score convictions, they’ll often resort to any tactics that are necessary to get them. A lawyer can help you understand when police officers are lying and when what they’re saying is irrelevant.
- Innocent people go to prison more often than you think. It’s hard to estimate the number of innocent people in jail, but some authorities believe it could be as high as 5 percent of the prison population. Innocent people can – and do – go to jail. Accordingly, even if you know you’re innocent of the crime, it’s important to have an attorney by your side so you can avoid this unfortunate result.
- Guilty people often talk themselves into more charges. If you’re guilty of one crime, you should know that you’re at risk of incriminating yourself for other crimes, adding more charges to your rap sheet. The more you talk to the police, the higher your chances of attracting additional charges become.
- The police cannot offer you a deal. The police might claim that they can offer you a deal, but they have no authority to do so. The police will not be able to offer you any kind of plea bargain, so don’t waste your time talking to them about it.
- You may easily misremember details. You might believe you can talk your way out of this situation, but your memory is more fallible than you think. Regardless of whether you sincerely believe you’re telling the truth or not, you might misrepresent yourself to police officers, which could be very bad for you in the long run.
- The police aren’t your friends. Police officers aren’t there to help you, no matter how much they claim so; they’re there to get a conviction. Don’t talk to them if you don’t have to.
Is There Ever a Time to Talk to the Police Alone?
Is there ever a time that you can talk to the police alone? When there’s an accusation, or even a suspicion on the table, the answer is no. Obviously, you should feel free to engage in casual conversations with police officers you see in public, but the moment you’re questioned, interrogated, arrested, detained, or otherwise put under official scrutiny, you should ask for a lawyer right away – and stay silent in the meantime.
