There are several reasons why individuals should exercise
caution when talking to the police after an arrest, from a legal perspective.
Here are a few examples:
Anything you say can be used against you: When you talk to
the police after an arrest, anything you say can and likely will be used
against you in court. Even seemingly harmless statements can be used to build a
case against you. For example, if you say something like, "I was at the
scene of the crime, but I didn't do anything wrong," that statement could
be used to link you to the crime scene and suggest that you were involved in
the crime.
You may unintentionally incriminate yourself: It is not uncommon for individuals to make statements to the police that unintentionally incriminate themselves. For example, if you say something like, "I only had a couple of drinks," that statement could be used to suggest that you were driving under the influence of alcohol, even if you didn't intend to admit that you were.
Police may use deceptive tactics: Police are trained to use
various tactics to get people to talk, including lying or making false
promises. For example, they may say things like, "If you cooperate with
us, we can make this all go away," even if that is not true. It is
important to remember that anything the police say to you during an
interrogation can and will be used against you in court.
It is best to have an attorney present: Even if you believe
that you have nothing to hide and want to be cooperative with the police, it is
generally best to have an attorney present during any questioning. An
experienced criminal defense attorney can help protect your rights and ensure
that you are not taken advantage of during the interrogation process.
In summary, talking to the police after an arrest can be
risky and potentially damaging to your case. It is generally advisable to
remain silent and seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney
before speaking with law enforcement.
