You may or may not realize this, but it’s illegal for you to lie to the police when they’re conducting an investigation – but the police can legally lie to you.
That doesn’t really seem fair, does it? Unfortunately, lying to suspects is part and parcel of many police tactics. Here are three ways it is done:
1. They have ironclad evidence against you.
Ever heard of something called “gaslighting?” Police investigators can be proud of it. Even though you may be 100% innocent, your interrogator may have you questioning your whole reality when they confidently assert that they have an eyewitness, DNA, fingerprints or video evidence of your guilt.
2. They’re going “off the record.”
Maybe the interrogating officer will make a big show of turning off a visible recording device, or maybe they’ll just give you their assurances that you can speak freely to them without fear of consequences – but don’t you believe it. Absolutely everything and anything you say to the authorities can come back to haunt you, and nothing is ever off the record.
3. They imply they’ll treat you leniently.
The interrogating officer doesn’t actually have any power to offer you a deal; that’s in the hands of the prosecutor – but that may not stop them from saying things like, “You can help yourself out here if you just confess.” They may heavily imply that just admitting your guilt will be to your benefit.
You can’t lie to the authorities during an active investigation without putting your future and your freedom at risk, but you can (and should) assert your right to remain silent. It also doesn’t hurt to turn a deaf ear to whatever the police may say until you have the opportunity to explore your defense options.
