persimmon
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2015
- Messages
- 511
- Reaction score
- 2
I completely agree. I've honestly been shocked at the number of posts I've seen on this particular thread implying it's unwise to refuse to speak with LE. Even worse, it has been implied one must be guilty if they do.
On the contrary, regardless of guilt or innocence, it is unwise to speak to LE about a crime without a lawyer present. You may know nothing and unknowingly say something that makes you look guilty. Confirmation bias and tunnel vision are very real things and can be impossible to prevent.
For example, say you agree to speak to LE about a crime you didn't commit because you don't have anything to hide. They ask you about a robbery that occurred last Tuesday that left the store owner dead. You tell them you were with your friend John last Tuesday and that he will confirm it. Besides, you tell them, you don't even own a gun. As it turns out, you had your days mixed up. John tells the police that you were together on Wednesday, not Tuesday. Now, the police want to know what you may be hiding and why you lied to them about your alibi. They're also wondering how you knew a gun was involved. They had only mentioned that he'd been killed; they specifically left out that he'd been shot. (You had only assumed that was the case because most armed robberies involve guns.) The store is right down the road from your house, and you shop there frequently. In fact, the security footage shows that you'd stopped by there on the very same day the robbery occurred. LE doesn't have any other credible leads, and now you're suspect numero uno.
The justice system operates like any other organization. There are consequences for employees who fail to close cases and promotions for those who do. Unfortunately, that is only one of many factors that result in the convictions of innocent people every single day.
PS. The law professor seen in that YouTube video also released a book recently, "You Have the Right to Remain Innocent". It's well worth a read.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks for the book reccomendation. I'm going to check it out.