If the police stop you in Kentucky, your first instinct might be to answer their questions. You might worry that if you stay silent, it makes you look guilty. In fact, many police officers have admitted that the opposite is true.
What could happen if you talk to the police?
Most people know that criminal law gives them the right to remain silent. This means that you don’t have to say anything without a criminal defense attorney present. You don’t have to answer their questions, consent to a search or admit that you did anything. Even if you tell the truth, you could still get in trouble.
When you talk to the police, you could end up admitting that you committed a crime without realizing it. You might have violated a minor law that you didn’t know about. It might seem unfair, but once you’ve admitted to it, the police can use that information against you. Many people don’t realize that the police can even lie to you to get the information they want.
Additionally, you could give the police information that implicates you in the crime even if you weren’t involved. For example, if you admit that you were at the scene, the police might assume that you were involved in some way. The information that you give the police might not seem important to you, but you have no idea what they’re looking for.
Finally, if the police talk to someone else who claims that you were involved, the police could accuse you of lying if you contradict that statement. You might be telling the truth, but they have no way of knowing that. For these reasons and more, it’s best to remain silent when you interact with the police.
Why do you need an attorney present?
An attorney may tell you what to say so that you don’t accidentally incriminate yourself. Experienced attorneys know about various laws in the state of Kentucky, including laws that you might have broken accidentally. Your attorney may help you avoid saying anything that leads to an arrest or conviction as well as defend you against false accusations.