Call For A Free Initial Consultation
Call For A Free Initial Consultation

Put Our Experience
To Work
For You

Photo of Professional At The Law Offices of Conti, Levy, Salerno & Antonio, LLC
  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Criminal Defense
  4.  » Can the police lie to you?

Can the police lie to you?

On Behalf of | Jul 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense |

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not illegal for the police in Connecticut to lie when they interrogate you. In fact, their deception could lead to false confessions, which results in wrongful convictions. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to police deception because they might not realize that officers can lie.

How does police deception influence confessions?

Police officers can lie when they want to get a confession out of somebody. They could tell them that another person already confessed or that they have evidence that implicates the individual. If the individual doesn’t have their criminal defense attorney present, they might think that making a false confession could result in a better deal. Unfortunately, they can’t take back their confession once they’ve made it.

Some officers don’t outright say that the individual is guilty but make statements that imply that they are. As a result, the individual might feel like it’s pointless to try to defend themselves. Instead of asking for an attorney, they give a false confession that might result in jail time. They’ll also have a criminal charge on their record for at least the next several years.

In particular, children and teenagers are more likely to fall for police deception. They might not know that they have a right to an attorney and don’t have to believe everything that the officers tell them. They could also make a false confession just to get out of the situation. This could torpedo their defense and result in punishments that they don’t deserve.

How do you know if an officer is lying?

You might not know if an officer is lying, but you don’t have to talk to them without an attorney. It’s best to stay silent and refuse to answer questions until your attorney arrives. Otherwise, you could accidentally give the police a false confession.