When you’re under investigation for criminal wrongdoing, you can feel like a cloud of suspicion is swirling above you, tainting everything you do in life. The uncertainty of it all can be oppressive, too, as you wait to see what comes of the investigation and how it’ll affect your future, if at all. That’s why many people who are under investigation end up wanting to voluntarily talk to the police. These individuals believe that by doing so they can dispel suspicions and clear their name, thus bringing the matter to a quick close.
But talking to the police about an investigation can be extraordinarily risky, and in most cases, it isn’t advisable to do so. Let’s look at why that is so that you have a better understanding of the risks associated with interacting with the police while you’re under investigation.
Why it’s risky to talk to the police while under criminal investigation
You might feel compelled to talk to the police in your case, but doing so is risky. Here are just a few a few reasons why you should think twice before interacting with the police in your case:
- The police can lie to you: There’s nothing that prevents the police from feeding you lies in an attempt to get you to talk. For example, they might indicate that they have physical evidence linking you to the scene of a crime. This could get you talking as you try to explain away what they’ve just told you, thus giving the police an opportunity to use your words against you one way or another.
- The police will twist your words out of context: Anything you say to the police can and will be used against you. Offhand comments and jokes can be used to incriminate you, even if when contextualized they have nothing to do with the criminal incident being investigated. This leaves you in a position where there really isn’t a good answer you can give to any of law enforcement’s questions.
- The police might threaten you: In some instances, the police may threaten you or your family members with additional criminal charges in hopes of getting you to cooperate. If you didn’t know any better, you might feel compelled to say whatever it is that the police want to hear just to protect yourself and your loved ones.
- The police could falsely promise you a deal: Sometimes the police promise to go light on an accused individual if that suspect agrees to cooperate and provide the information sought. Yet, the police don’t really have the ability to offer any kind of plea deals in these cases. That’s a task left up to the prosecution. But the police might give you a misconception in hopes of spurring the conversation forward.
- The police may act friendly towards you: On the other end of the spectrum, the police might act friendly towards you out in the community to try to get you comfortable enough to talk to them. But there’s another strategy at work here. If you’re not being subjected to custodial interrogation, then the police don’t have to advise you of your rights. This might give them an opportunity to get information out of you without you realizing their intent.
Don’t let the police trip you up into making a costly mistake
There’s a lot to deal with when you’re under suspicion for criminal wrongdoing. You have to be careful so you don’t make a mistake that proves costly to your criminal defense. Therefore, now is the time to figure out your criminal defense strategy so that you can protect your interests and hopefully secure a favorable outcome in your case.