When the police suspect you of committing a crime, they often want you to come into the station to give an interview. They may already have enough evidence or “probable cause” to arrest you, but they try this first to see if you will talk to them. The truth is they actually want you to incriminate yourself. So even if you don’t actually confess to anything, any details you give them can actually corroborate the police’s theory of the case against you.
The warning that “anything you say can and will be used against you” is more than just a right you have; it is the actual police practice of interrogations. If you are under investigation, seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney before you say anything to the police. The police are not your friend; any time they tell you they just want to “get your side of the story” or they “want to help you out,” don’t believe it. They are looking for things you can say that they will use against you.
Always remember the old prison saying, “Nobody talks, everybody walks.”
About the Author
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Lawyer Vicki Koutsogiannis practices South Carolina criminal defense law. She recommends people under investigation not talk to police or agree to anything until they have first consulted with an attorney. Vicki is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, and is a member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. To schedule your appointment with her in our Lexington office call 1-888-301-6004.