A police interrogation can get ugly pretty quickly. It is critical if you find yourself interrogated by the police to know your rights. Once you are arrested or picked up for interrogation, you will need an attorney to keep the pressure off of confessing to something you did not do.
There are usually two cops used for interrogation. One is playing the good cop who appears to be friendly, while the other is the bad cop who uses threats and violence to draw out information. It works on emotions and causes many victims to confess to something they are not guilty of doing.
The Right to Remain Silent
Interrogation is meant for suspects in a crime to offer information in an investigation that will help detectives or officers solve an ongoing open case. Upon arrest, the arresting officer must read the suspect the Miranda Rights. While putting the handcuffs on them, they first tell the person, “You have the right to remain silent.” This is significant because anything said during the arrest will be used in court to help convict a suspect. That statement is also made known to the suspect.
The police will then bring the suspect to the police station and put them in a room. It is usually a small area with a video camera and voice recording to capture the moment. There is also a one-way window where officers and detectives watch on the other side, but it appears as a mirror inside the room.
Being interrogated by police is a mind game used to work on the emotional and psychological aspects of the individual in hopes of making them snap or break while giving a confession or additional information that will lead to more arrests. The interrogation can take minutes, or it can last for hours. There is no time limit, but knowing your rights can save you from going to prison or having the charges dropped.
Can You Ask for a Lawyer During Interrogation?
Suppose you are in the interrogation room. If it is your first arrest or interrogation, it can become intimidating, and panic can set in, leading to more challenging situations. It is critical to realize that everyone is entitled to one phone call. The first person should always be an attorney.
You may wonder if you can ask for a lawyer during interrogation. Yes. It states in the Miranda Rights, usually shortened to mean the same thing when they say, “You have the right to an attorney.”
The complete statement of Miranda Rights explains in detail that you may request an attorney anytime. It may be before, during, or after the interrogation process begins. The best thing to do is only speak to a lawyer and not give in to intimidation from the beginning.
If nothing is said or requested on the suspect’s part, the interrogation will go on as routine. Some innocent suspects will cooperate and answer all questions. However, it is in the tactics of the police to ask the same question the same way and reword the question to mean the same thing to trick the suspect. Some may stick to the truth, but few will not cave to the pressure. During the interrogation, the suspect can quit talking and stop the interrogation. The law officers must abide by the rights and allow the suspect to go with their attorney.
Court Appointed Attorneys Vs. Personal Attorneys
Another part of Miranda Rights offers the suspect the option of choosing their attorney or receiving a court-appointed attorney. Court-appointed attorneys work “pro-bono,” which means the suspect does not have to pay the attorney if they cannot afford the service. They are usually volunteer attorneys or lawyers just starting and trying to make a name for themselves.
It is a chance taken on what type of defense attorney the suspect may get. Yes, they will pay for their personal attorney versus the court-appointed one, but the options are more reliable with someone they know. Having a private attorney will offer the benefits of having more confidence in knowing the attorney and explaining their side of the story in better detail.
Reasons for Requesting a Lawyer During an Interrogation
Lawyers are educated on knowing how the system works and the tactics used by police interrogation. During the good cop and bad cop ordeal, the police can scare the suspect badly enough into confessing to a crime they did not commit. In reality, they only work on the suspect’s emotions to get any information to close the case and move on to the next one. A lawyer will stop this system before a signed confession takes place.
Speaking with the attorney and explaining in detail their side of the story will allow the attorney to speak on their client’s behalf to the police and the courts. The attorney will not be intimidated, and they will handle the situation in a professional manner that can reduce the charges or have the case dropped altogether.
The attorneys will not allow their clients to be bullied into giving up their Miranda Rights. Once the attorney is contacted, the entire interrogation goes in a different direction, where the attorney assists the law officers with only enough information they need to know. The rest of the time, the attorney will handle in the courtroom should the case go that far.
Contact Trapp Law, LLC Before Interrogations
It is always best to have an attorney backing you up and speaking on your behalf when situations arise during an arrest or if you are brought in for questioning for any reason. Trapp Law, LLC is experienced in handling these situations and works to deliver a bright outcome for your protection.
You never know when a situation may happen when you find yourself in an interrogation room. Many may never experience this, but if you do, contact us immediately! You want peace of mind to know there is nothing to worry about.