Should I Agree to Talk to the Police?
You should never agree to talk to the police before seeking advice from a lawyer. Many people who are stopped by law enforcement officials, or arrested on suspicion of committing a criminal offense, are questioned by law enforcement and urged to speak. These circumstances can be anxiety-inducing and confusing for many people, especially if you see police as authority figures and might feel compelled to provide certain answers. In general, police are also allowed to lie to you or engage in deceptive practices when they are questioning or interrogating you, and you might be convinced by those lies and convinced to speak.
The key thing to remember is this: any time a police officer or law enforcement official questions you, you should invoke your right to legal counsel and should avoid speaking until you have talked to a lawyer. Our Indianapolis criminal defense lawyers can tell you more about your rights and how law enforcement officials might try to urge you to talk even though you have the right to remain silent.
You Have a Right to Remain Silent
You have the right to remain silent. This is part of the Miranda warnings that must be given to you upon arrest or any time you are placed in custody and interrogated. Even if you have not been arrested and are not being interrogated while in police custody, you do not have to talk to police or to other law enforcement officials. You should remain silent and talk to a lawyer before saying anything.
After You Have You Have Invoked Your Right to an Attorney, Law Enforcement Must Stop Questioning You
Once you have asked for a lawyer — in other words, once you have invoked your right to an attorney — the police or any other law enforcement officials must stop talking to you and questioning you. The police are only able to begin questioning you again if, on your own, you later revoke your right to counsel (but the police cannot continue speaking to you in an attempt to convince you to revoke your right to an attorney).
You Can Still Build a Defense Even If You Already Spoke to the Police
If you were already questioned in connection with a criminal offense and you decided to speak with the police, it is more important than ever to get in touch with a lawyer who can help. While the information you supplied to any law enforcement official may be information that can be used against you in a prosecution, an attorney can still work with you to build the strongest defense possible under the circumstances.
Contact an Indianapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Whether you were recently questioned by police or have concerns that you may soon be questioned in connection with a criminal offense, or if your child was recently questioned, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. An experienced Indianapolis criminal defense attorney at Rigney Law LLC can talk with you today to clarify your rights, and we can begin working with you on a defense strategy regardless of whether you exercised your right to remain silent or provided some evidence to the police. Contact us today to find out more about how we can assist you.
Sources:
supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/394/731/
supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/384/436/
in.gov/ipdc/juvenile-justice/information-for-youth-and-parents/know-your-rights/#:~:text=You%20do%20not%20have%20to,should%20not%20tell%20the%20police
