When the police get you into an interrogation room, they may use every tool at their disposal to get you talking – including lies. Whether their tone is friendly, sympathetic or simply confident that they already know what happened, you can’t assume that anything you are told is the truth.
The police may misrepresent the strength of their case, claim that someone else has implicated you or even tell you they have evidence that doesn’t exist. They may tell you that honesty is the best policy and will benefit you, but their real goal is to keep you talking until you say something incriminating.
When can the police lie to you?
While lying to a police officer during an investigation is a crime, it is perfectly legal for the police to lie to you. For example, a detective may falsely claim that:
- Your fingerprints or DNA were found at the scene
- A surveillance camera recorded you at the scene or in action
- Your friend or alleged accomplice has already confessed
- A witness or witnesses identified you as the perpetrator
- Your cellphone records place you at a particular location
- They already know what happened and only need your explanation
- You aren’t a suspect, and you can go home after answering questions
Another tactic the police may use is to tell you that a confession will save you from serious charges. In reality, prosecutors – not the police – decide what charges you will face. They are also the only people who can offer you a plea deal in exchange for your confession.
It’s important to note that there are some limits on police deception. Lying about what evidence they have may be acceptable, but forging evidence is not. While they may lie and tell you that they have DNA evidence that implies your guilt, they cannot show you a forged report from a lab to that effect. That’s generally considered police misconduct.
It’s incredibly important to remember that every interaction with the police may be dangerous to your position. A skilled criminal defense attorney can protect your interests and make it harder for deceptive tactics to work.