It can be terrifying to be interrogated by police officers. Officers are highly trained in an array of tactics to get individuals to confess or incriminate themselves. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself from police pressure and protect your rights. Here’s what you need to know if you are ever interrogated by police.
- Ask if you are free to leave
- It is always important to establish whether you are in police custody or not. The easiest way to do this is to ask if you are free to leave. If the law enforcement officers say that you are free to leave, you should take that opportunity to leave without any further interactions. If they say you are not free to leave, that means you are in custody, your next statement should be “I want an attorney.”
- Demand your right to an attorney and stay silent
- The first words you should say to any law enforcement officer, whether you fear you may be interrogated or not, is “I want to speak to my attorney.” It is extremely important you are clear with that sentence. The Supreme Court of the United States has made it clear that a person being questioned by the police must unequivocally invoke their right to an attorney. It is not enough to say I think I want a lawyer or do you think it’s a good idea to speak to you without a lawyer. You should always be clear and concise I want a lawyer or I want to speak to my attorney. Law enforcement cannot continue their questioning after you invoke this right.
- Be aware the police do not need to be honest with you
- Police are allowed to lie, and they will often use this to their advantage. Police will use tactics including lying about the amount of evidence they have against you or about what others have already told them. They may also pretend they are trying to help you by vouching for you to the DA. They are allowed to do this and will often do so to get you to talk. The best thing you can do is tell the officer I want a lawyer before answering any questions.
- Make sure you have a lawyer present
- No matter how confident you are in your ability to resist interrogation, police are trained in interrogation techniques that get suspects to make admissions. Having an experienced lawyer with you throughout every stage of an arrest is critical to ensure you do not incriminate yourself and have the best chance at fighting your case.
Fox Law Firm, PLLC is a New York criminal and traffic law practice serving clients throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. With more than three decades of experience, the attorneys of Fox Law Firm PLLC has helped clients in traffic and criminal cases defend themselves and protect their rights. For more information or to ask for a consultation, call our Riverhead office at 631-779-3400 or visit our contact page.
