"Every time you talk to the police, you will regret it"

[snousle]

Here's a couple of videos that are worth an hour of your time:

If you are getting bored, skip to the second video, which says much the same thing, but there's a hot daddy bear to look at while you're listening.

Some real food for thought there. The two very serious questions I wish I could ask these guys:

1) Refusing to speak to an officer surely attracts attention to oneself. Is it really desirable to remain silent even in a completely innocuous situation? Aren't there cases where remaining silent attracts more trouble than it prevents?

2) Suppose you are a witness to a crime and you feel an ethical obligation to help solve the case. What are you supposed to do? Pay for a lawyer yourself? What is the role of social responsibility here?

I can't deny that what they say is true and correct, but it bothers me, because if everyone took their advice, we would have no law enforcement whatsoever.

Comments

[barbarian-rat.livejournal.com]

Your second question occurred to me too.

I haven't watched the second one yet...

The lawyer reminded me of a Groucho Marx on too much coffee.
His point that any statement one makes to the police can be used against, but not for a defendant is chilling.

[snousle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that shocked me, too. I have a hard time understanding how incriminating statements are a "confession" while exculpating ones are "hearsay".

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It's a pretty mind-boggling logical inconsistency.

ARE WE SHOCKED???

[darkphuque.livejournal.com]

There was a case in Indiana (I think) where a guy was interrogated for 30 hours straight. He eventually confessed and implicated 2 others in the rape/murder. The other two were interrogated for over 24 hours and they confessed, implicating another guy... whom neither of them knew. They met him in a bar. All but 2 of the guys have been exonerated, and the judge and district attorney are fighting the exonerations and telling everyone that the men were all guilty, because they have full confessions.

The interrogation technique is not new, as the Spanish Inquisition used it quite effectively. The police are allowed to lie to to the guy being interrogated, threaten him/her, physically and mentally abuse this person. Physical abuse is illegal, but as long as the police have a reasonable explanation for physical marks.

Is there justice? Rarely.... There are 100's of prisoners who are being exonerated by DNA evidence. If you commit a crime, pray you don't get caught and if you do... lawyer up ASAP.

[snousle.livejournal.com]

I just realized the second one was linked incorrectly. It is now fixed.

[h0gwash.livejournal.com]

The Justice department is a ultimately a business and you always want to stay out of 'processing' range by not looking like an easy target who is reasonably guilty, at least in the somewhat biased eyes of the officer.

It is notable that the police only catch the dumb ones. It is smart to shut up if you suspect an LEO on the prowl. They will know they've been made and will look for easier, guiltier looking prey they can process easily.

If you are a witness to a crime and want to help and are obviously not involved in it and you don't look suspicious, you won't have a target on your head. Or if you do, you can give an anonymous tip. But if you're arrested you absolutely need to get the best lawyer you can afford because they will process you like they've processed the last million people. If you only give them your money and keep your freedom you're ahead of the game.

[barbarian-rat.livejournal.com]

I thought the second video was very interesting, hearing all this from the defense atty was one thing, but hearin' it from the cop was even better.

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Good info and good questions. I also wonder what the analogous rights involved look like (and mean) in Canada.

[goldibehr.livejournal.com]

off topic: have you seen this image?

http://dailyotter.org/post/4606797774/mother-otter-shows-off-her-pup

[snousle.livejournal.com]

Aww. I bet otters never get arrested!