10 Important Reasons Why You Should Never Talk to the Police Without a Lawyer
When there is a warrant of arrest issued against you, the police read the Miranda rights to you. It is more like a warning to let you know, as a suspect, that you should remain silent.
In case you are caught up in a police investigation, do not hesitate to let them know to contact your attorney. Most law experts agree you should never talk to the police. Why?
When speaking in a panic, your chances of self-incriminating are very high. You need to have legal counsel with you anytime you have any contribution to make to the case, especially if you are a person of interest.
Discover 10 smart reasons why you shouldn’t speak to the police without a lawyer present.
10 Smart Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Speak to the Police Without a Lawyer Present
When the police approach you as a suspect, you should not feel the urge to talk your way out of it. They may use lies or threats to convince you to answer their questions or provide your account of events of a crime.
You should only speak to the police when your lawyer is present. In some unfortunate circumstances, you may face police brutality. The police should protect citizens but there are reports of them violating the rights of citizens.
Such violation may be in the form of excessive force, harassment, and racial slurs. If this happens to you, you should hire a police brutality attorney from USAttorneys. Hold to your account and speak only when your lawyer is present for these reasons:
1. You Have the Right to Remain Silent
Do not think that there is no harm in talking to your police. The police are keen to solve a case and can use the methods allowed to them by the law to prove your innocence to them. When the police arrest you, you are the one who has the right to remain silent.
The police have no right to demand answers from you. Know how police interrogations run and ensure you keep yourself safe. Just think about it. Who will be able to fight for your rights and your freedom in case you are to be in prison: lawyer vs police?
2. The Police Can Lie to You
You should know your rights well. Ensure you only speak in the presence of your lawyer. This is because the system does not work to the benefit of suspects since there must be a convicted criminal in each case of crime.
It is common to find the police lying to suspects to convince them to waive their right to remain silent. They can even attempt to convince you that you do not need a lawyer. You should always remember that it is not safe to talk to the police when your attorney is not present.
3. You Are Not Familiar with the Law
When the police are taking you in, you will probably be asking yourself why they arrested you and what you can do to prove your innocence. However, since the law will be at play at this point, it is best to restrain from pleading your innocence until when your attorney is present. If you speak, you may be admitting to committing a crime without knowing.
There are many criminal statutes and you may not know which states that an activity you did is a crime.
4. Witnesses May Make Errors or Lie
Witnesses are key persons when it comes to solving crimes. They give an account as to what happened and help the police to close in on the suspects. Therefore, a witness may wrongly accuse you of taking part in a crime.
If you keep talking, it shall be your words against that of the witness. This could lead you to make incriminating statements. The witness may not have seen the criminal well and they may give a description that fits your physical appearance or car.
In some cases, some witnesses may have a motive against you and want you to serve time for a crime you did not commit. In such cases, don’t talk to the cops as incriminating reports have since been given and you may risk losing your freedom. Many are serving time in jail for crimes they did not commit.
Luckily, due to the advancements, especially in DNA analyses, successful exonerations happen after their innocence is proven, even years later. Preserve your freedom by refraining from talking to the cops without your attorney present.
5. Lying to the Police Is a Crime
If you lie to the police, this is a federal crime and it is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years. Although you may know your truth in the situation, hold from speaking your truth and wait to do so in the presence of your attorney. There is also no such thing as a white lie when it comes to the law. A lie is a lie and if you give a false report or evidence, you will face the law.
6. The Police May Not Recall Your Testimony
You may give an accurate account of events to the police if you decide to speak to them. However, since they are specifically looking for any leads that may tie you to the crime, the information that you share may not be taken in as an accurate testimony on their end. They may take small pieces of information such as ‘I never liked that person but I would never consider causing harm to them’ and twist this into a motive as the case presented in court.
Human error happens and a cop’s perspective while interrogating you is to hook with your own words since they have a hunch or a probable cause that you are a suspect.
7. Random Evidence Can Work Against You
While conducting an investigation, the police will not lay out all the facts as they interrogate you. They do not owe you that or any other information. Therefore, you should only talk to them in the presence of your lawyer.
You may risk a conviction for a crime if you do not stay silent. For example, if the crime is murder and you know that you are innocent, do not jeopardize this by talking. The victim may have been shot and by you saying you don’t own a gun or you have never fired one, they will hold this against you by asking if you are not the murderer, how did you know the murder weapon?
8. A Lawyer Can Get You Immunity or a Plea Bargain
When thrown in the deep end, the only way you can stay afloat is by having an expert pull you out of the situation. Therefore, you should hire an expert lawyer and wait for them when the police arrest and interrogate you. If you are guilty, you should not outrightly accept the charges against you or accept responsibility of the offense.
You may think that you are being good and complying with the cops but this could work against you. Remember, you are already in their bad books. It is in your best interest to wait for your attorney who can get you immunity or a plea bargain.
9. The Police Are Keen to Get Statements to Make a Case
The only entity that has authority to make grants, deals, immunity or negotiate please arrangements is the U.S. Attorney in federal court and State Attorney in state courts. The police do not have such authority. They may try to get you to give a statement and promise to offer you a deal but this will be bluff.
All they need is to have your words make a case against you. Your words will hold in the interrogation room.
10. Cross-Examination May Make You a Suspect
You may be innocent and give your honest account of the events of the case. However, it may be hard for you to give a similar account each time you are on the hot seat. A cross-examiner will be keen to match your previous and recent account and if they notice any gaps, they may accuse you of lying.
It is best to stay silent and hold to your truth until the right moment. You may see that there is nothing wrong with speaking up and trust your instinct, the cop, or your eloquence. Be careful because your memory may fail you at some point and this shall put you in jeopardy.
Never Talk to the Police Before Your Attorney Arrives
You now know the answer to the question: ‘Can police interrogate you without a lawyer?’ Know your rights and never talk to the police, even when you are sure of your innocence or they somehow win your trust. Do not budge until your lawyer arrives. In such cases, silence sure is golden.
Ensure you do not fall into the tricks of the cops to make you accept your role in a crime. You should also know the law, when it may work for you and against you. Knowledge is indeed power.
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