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"Don't talk to the cops" is the surest way to get criminals off and to create ghetto-like conditions. Yes, definitely 'talk to the cops' unless you're a suspec

"Don't talk to the cops" is the surest way to get criminals off and to create ghetto-like conditions. Yes, definitely 'talk to the cops' unless you're a suspect of something that you didn't do, and then of course get a lawyer.

cf141q5325 8y ago
Good luck on getting out of a hole you dug yourself in before they determined that you make a good culprit. Lawyers do love themselves a client that decided they needed a lawyer after talking for hours. If you are sure you a only a wittiness and have something worthwhile to contribute prepare a statement, give that and nothing more. If they have more questions repeat the process. Once you start a conversation you are betting on how much CSI the officer saw recently and how shady they think you look.
- jstarfish 8y ago
  Even witness statements ought to be given under the counsel of a lawyer.
  - cf141q5325 8y ago
    In a perfect world yes, but not everyone can afford a lawyer. To many people only remember to ask for a lawyer and are then thrown when its not a viable option and resign and start talking instead. Not having a conversation however is always an option you should stick by no matter what.
    - maxxxxx 8y ago
      Considering the cost for a lawyer I would also be reluctant to get one especially if I thought I didn’t do anything wrong.
gotocake 8y ago
The only words that should ever come out of your mouth and float to a cop’s ears are, “I’m invoking my rights to an attorney, and silence.” Rinse and repeat as needed, and ignore ideological arguments from strangers on the internet that don’t have your best interests in mind. Oh and “ghetto-like” wasn’t necessary.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- baud147258 8y ago
  If that's your reaction to a cop talking to you, I hope you're ready to spend some time at the police station.
  - gotocake 8y ago
    I am; the stupidest thing anyone can do is try to save some time at the expense of placing faith in the justice system. I’d add, how screwed up is a system that punishes you for exercising your constitutional rights.
Nadya 8y ago
"Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law." Note two things about this statement: 1) Nothing you say will be used for you. 2) Everything you say will be used against you. I forget the lawyer's name, but the above is paraphrased from a former prosecutor turned D.A. Never put forward any statement to the police without at least consulting your lawyer first. Even if you're innocent, even if you're providing a witness statement. Anything. By all means - give witness statements. Help the police do their job. Just be sure to speak with a lawyer first. There's a very high chance that even though you did nothing wrong you'll incriminate yourself by speaking up.
- Quekid5 8y ago
  You may be thinking of Don't Talk to the Police[1]? I'm not sure if the speaker explicitly says this or just quotes someone who did, but let's just say that this is a recurring theme in the talk... [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE
- RRWagner 8y ago
  "Will be used against you" to me is one of the strongest arguments against government surveillance without warrants. You can choose to not talk to police. You can't choose to have your data not gathered by the NSA.
- hexane360 8y ago
  Point 1 doesn't logically follow from the Miranda rights. In fact, that's the whole point of the adversarial court system: everything you say will be used for and against you, by the defense and the prosecution respectively.
  - Nadya 8y ago
    How do you think your defense would obtain a copy of anything you said to use in your favor? In a situation where you would need it, it won't be presented unless you happen to have been recording yourself. But if you trust the police to not use things you say against you then you're also likely to trust them enough to not be recording your interactions. The prosecution has no incentive or motivation to present evidence that could be used to the benefit of the defense.
jstarfish 8y ago
People have a civic duty to cooperate with police to make their communities safer, true. The problem is that the police abuse this relationship to rush investgations and slap names on casefiles. If you say you were there, you become a suspect and if it goes to trial then your life literally falls into the hands of the most simpleminded people that voir dire couldn't eliminate, or a single "impartial" individual. Or, a simpler (real!) case- suppose you drive away from a bar having had too much to drink. You realize your mistake, pull over safely and pass out behind the wheel. A carjacker approaches you and steals your car at gunpoint. You go crying to the police. Soon as you tell them what you were even doing there, you're facing DUI charges yourself. You become the bad guy. Even if your car is recovered, you won't be driving it anytime soon. You'll lose your job if your employer finds out . You'll spend thousands on legal defense. All told you end up being punished more severely than the actual criminal-- because even if caught, he has nothing to lose. And this was all brought about because you freely admitted to committing a crime yourself.
- lccarrasco 8y ago
  If you did pass out from drinking, even if you realized that it was a bad idea before anything happened, you deserve the DUI and don't deserve to use a car, I would hope the police don't just let you go free because you were carjacked.
SampleBourgeois 8y ago
"ghetto-like conditions" are caused by the effects of capitalism, not by refraining from talking to police.
amanaplanacanal 8y ago
How do you know you're a suspect? Are the police required to tell you? What if you become a suspect after you talk to the police? Are they required to disregard all the things you already told them?

cf141q5325 8y ago

Good luck on getting out of a hole you dug yourself in before they determined that you make a good culprit. Lawyers do love themselves a client that decided they needed a lawyer after talking for hours. If you are sure you a only a wittiness and have something worthwhile to contribute prepare a statement, give that and nothing more. If they have more questions repeat the process. Once you start a conversation you are betting on how much CSI the officer saw recently and how shady they think you look.

jstarfish 8y ago
Even witness statements ought to be given under the counsel of a lawyer.
- cf141q5325 8y ago
  In a perfect world yes, but not everyone can afford a lawyer. To many people only remember to ask for a lawyer and are then thrown when its not a viable option and resign and start talking instead. Not having a conversation however is always an option you should stick by no matter what.
  - maxxxxx 8y ago
    Considering the cost for a lawyer I would also be reluctant to get one especially if I thought I didn’t do anything wrong.

gotocake 8y ago

The only words that should ever come out of your mouth and float to a cop’s ears are, “I’m invoking my rights to an attorney, and silence.” Rinse and repeat as needed, and ignore ideological arguments from strangers on the internet that don’t have your best interests in mind. Oh and “ghetto-like” wasn’t necessary.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
baud147258 8y ago
If that's your reaction to a cop talking to you, I hope you're ready to spend some time at the police station.
- gotocake 8y ago
  I am; the stupidest thing anyone can do is try to save some time at the expense of placing faith in the justice system. I’d add, how screwed up is a system that punishes you for exercising your constitutional rights.

Nadya 8y ago

"Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law." Note two things about this statement: 1) Nothing you say will be used for you. 2) Everything you say will be used against you. I forget the lawyer's name, but the above is paraphrased from a former prosecutor turned D.A. Never put forward any statement to the police without at least consulting your lawyer first. Even if you're innocent, even if you're providing a witness statement. Anything. By all means - give witness statements. Help the police do their job. Just be sure to speak with a lawyer first. There's a very high chance that even though you did nothing wrong you'll incriminate yourself by speaking up.

Quekid5 8y ago
You may be thinking of Don't Talk to the Police[1]? I'm not sure if the speaker explicitly says this or just quotes someone who did, but let's just say that this is a recurring theme in the talk... [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE
RRWagner 8y ago
"Will be used against you" to me is one of the strongest arguments against government surveillance without warrants. You can choose to not talk to police. You can't choose to have your data not gathered by the NSA.
hexane360 8y ago
Point 1 doesn't logically follow from the Miranda rights. In fact, that's the whole point of the adversarial court system: everything you say will be used for and against you, by the defense and the prosecution respectively.
- Nadya 8y ago
  How do you think your defense would obtain a copy of anything you said to use in your favor? In a situation where you would need it, it won't be presented unless you happen to have been recording yourself. But if you trust the police to not use things you say against you then you're also likely to trust them enough to not be recording your interactions. The prosecution has no incentive or motivation to present evidence that could be used to the benefit of the defense.

jstarfish 8y ago

People have a civic duty to cooperate with police to make their communities safer, true. The problem is that the police abuse this relationship to rush investgations and slap names on casefiles. If you say you were there, you become a suspect and if it goes to trial then your life literally falls into the hands of the most simpleminded people that voir dire couldn't eliminate, or a single "impartial" individual. Or, a simpler (real!) case- suppose you drive away from a bar having had too much to drink. You realize your mistake, pull over safely and pass out behind the wheel. A carjacker approaches you and steals your car at gunpoint. You go crying to the police. Soon as you tell them what you were even doing there, you're facing DUI charges yourself. You become the bad guy. Even if your car is recovered, you won't be driving it anytime soon. You'll lose your job if your employer finds out . You'll spend thousands on legal defense. All told you end up being punished more severely than the actual criminal-- because even if caught, he has nothing to lose. And this was all brought about because you freely admitted to committing a crime yourself.

lccarrasco 8y ago
If you did pass out from drinking, even if you realized that it was a bad idea before anything happened, you deserve the DUI and don't deserve to use a car, I would hope the police don't just let you go free because you were carjacked.

SampleBourgeois 8y ago

"ghetto-like conditions" are caused by the effects of capitalism, not by refraining from talking to police.

amanaplanacanal 8y ago

How do you know you're a suspect? Are the police required to tell you? What if you become a suspect after you talk to the police? Are they required to disregard all the things you already told them?