We frequently receive calls from people who tell us the police want to talk to them. They want to know whether it’s ever a good idea, even if on the surface it seems like all they want to do is ask a few innocent questions.
No.
Don’t do it.
STOP. Re-read the last two lines. Re-read them again. That’s your answer.
If the police call you in for questioning, don’t call back
Don’t do it when you are under arrest.
Don’t do it when you are not under arrest.
Don’t do it because you think it will clear your name.
Don’t do it when you are guilty of exactly what they suspect.
Don’t do it when you think they have overwhelming evidence against you.
Don’t do it when you know they couldn’t possibly have evidence against you.
Don’t do it because you think actual innocence will protect you.
Don’t even think about doing it.
Don’t do it and don’t continue to ask yourself whether you should do it.
Don’t do it because you think it will help you in any way.
Don’t do it because you think cops will tell you the truth.
Don’t do it because you believe the cops.
Don’t do it because every judge allows them to lie to you, and cops are trained to lie to people.*
Hire A Lawyer, If You Can
If you can afford to hire an attorney, let your attorney assert your rights for you. If talking to the police is in your best interest, your lawyer is the only one you can trust to decide.
If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, you may need to assert your own rights. Know this: you must assert your right to remain silent AND ACTUALLY REMAIN SILENT. Never let up, or you may waive your right.
“Interview” with Police? Don’t do it.
I’ll talk to them and clear up everything. Don’t do it.
I’m scared. Don’t do it.
I didn’t do anything. Don’t do it.
I don’t know anything. Don’t do it.
They’ll get a warrant. Don’t do it.
I am scared they will arrest me, if I don’t talk. Don’t do it.
I’m worried about having a criminal record. Don’t do it.
If you are highly educated, don’t do it.
If you are a cop, don’t do it.
If you know the cops personally, don’t do it.
If you are a human, don’t do it.
They said . Don’t do it.
They threatened me with . Don’t do it.
Just Don’t Do it.
Just not doing it might be the end of it. Just not doing it may be the first step in a long, gut-punching, life-altering process. There’s no way to tell on the front end of the process.
Cops are under no obligation to disclose honestly what they are investigating. Cops are under no duty to provide you with truthful information about why they want to talk to you. Cops can make as many false claims as they see fit to tell you.
Just Don’t Do it.
*Before you read that as “all cops are liars”, understand cops frequently use techniques they think will get people to talk. People typically don’t like admitting their guilt or involvement in crime, especially when they expect punishment, which is not difficult to understand. Denial is normal. Getting those people to talk is often no easy task, so cops work on that problem with a variety of methods, and lying is just another tool in the cop toolbox to get people to talk. One prominent, but hopefully soon-to-be-abandoned, method is called “The Reid Technique”, which has led to countless false confessions.