How do you survive an interrogation?

Learn to survive an interrogation without falling into common traps. Think before you speak. Listen carefully to the questions that you’re asked before blurting out answers. Remember that your statements are being documented and assessed for inaccuracies.

What happens if you don’t say anything during an interrogation?

No. You have the constitutional right to remain silent. In general, you do not have to talk to law enforcement officers (or anyone else), even if you do not feel free to walk away from the officer, you are arrested, or you are in jail. You cannot be punished for refusing to answer a question.

Can you stay silent in a police interrogation?

You Can’t Be Silent If You Want to Be Silent. In a closely contested 2013 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that prosecutors can, under appropriate circumstances, point to an out-of-custody suspect’s silence in response to police questioning as evidence of guilt.

What are the rights of a suspect in a police interrogation?

To safeguard against a suspect falling into an involuntary confession because he thinks he has no choice but to speak, the police must expressly, clearly and completely advise any suspect of his rights to silence and counsel before beginning an interrogation or any other attempt to get a statement from a suspect.

Can You Talk Your Way Out of a police interrogation?

Some people believe that they can talk their way out of anything. When one is facing the prospect of a police interrogation, though, it is best to think again. A police interrogation is not a fair fight. The detectives have all of the experience and all of the information. The only thing a suspect possesses is uncertainty and fear.

What are some of the best known interrogation tactics?

Perhaps the best known interrogation tactic is the good cop/bad cop ploy. It goes likes this: The suspect is left alone in the interrogation room for a lengthy period. The effect of this is the same as calling a time-out before key freethrows in a basketball game to “ice the shooter.”

What happens if you are detained during an interrogation?

If you are detained in an interrogation room, you are the target of the investigation. If, during the course of the interrogation, the police develop probable cause to arrest, you will not be going home. However, if you invoke your right to counsel, you may very well go home.