We’ve all seen the episode of Dateline, and thought why would someone confess to a crime they didn’t commit. Surprisingly, false confessions happen
often. Although podcasts and mainstream television are bringing awareness to this flaw in the criminal justice system, that doesn’t mean false confessions
aren’t happening frequently. Usually they happen when being intimidated by the police.
Most of us have been blindsided at one time or another, and as they say on reality TV “verbally attacked.” We’re having a great day, then all of a sudden we are in an intervention with roommates or co-workers. They’re accusing us of not taking out the garbage, or some other drama we didn’t take part in. They’re threatening to evict us out of the apartment. Well, imagine if we are being threatened for hours by the police! Instead of an eviction notice, it’s a life in prison warning!
The Innocence Project, which is a nonprofit legal organization committed to exonerating wrongly convicted people through the use of DNA, and to reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustices— has reported that 32% of people exonerated by DNA evidence confessed to crimes they did not commit.
Despite what we’ve been told, a police officer can lie to us at anytime. It may not be right, but it’s legal, and it works.
Below are some common tactics that cause people to make false confessions.
- Police state that they have evidence that you have committed the crime
- Racial profiling
- Police state that someone saw you at the crime scene
- Police State that they can help you if you admit to committing the crime
- Police threaten that loved ones will suffer if you do not confess
- Police take advantage if you are intoxicated, or were intoxicated when the crime was committed
- Police take advantage of mental illness or exhaustion (Yes exhaustion is a real condition)
Tactics That Can Help You Not Make A False Confession
- Know your rights
- Try to be patient
- Do not trust anyone, except your attorney
It’s impossible for someone to be rational when being arrested. To say, “be patient” when you are being interrogated by the police is easier said than done.
However it’s extremely important to “know your rights.” 1: “The right to remain silent.” 2: The most crucial right to remember, and the most powerful law in the criminal justice system,“you have the right to an attorney.”
No matter how long you have been interrogated, or even if you have already made a false confession— you have the right to request an attorney, at any time.
The only person that will help you get through this difficult process is a trustworthy lawyer.
Call us. We can help.
