Should I Try to Explain My Side of the Story to Police?

Many people ask whether they should try to explain their side of the story to the police when they are arrested or accused of committing a criminal offense. Of course, wanting to set the record straight and clear your name is a normal human reaction to this situation. However, it is almost NEVER a good idea to try and explain or even speak to the police about your criminal case or the allegations against you.  

You May Give the Police Evidence to Use Against You 

You may think that if you simply tell the truth about what happened, the criminal arrest and charges will go away, and you can quickly and easily resolve the matter. The fact is that when you speak to the police about your case, you are giving the police, and more importantly, the prosecutor, information. You may give them information that they will not have to prove at a later point and even information that they can directly use against you. You inadvertently give them exactly the details they need to build a stronger case for criminal prosecution against you.  

For example, suppose that the police have accused you of assaulting another person. If you admit to the police that you were present at the scene of the assault or that you had contact with the person who was assaulted, you are handing evidence to the prosecution that they may not already know. They no longer will have to prove to a jury that you were in the state of New Jersey when the crime occurred or that you had contact with the alleged victim around the time of the assault, which could make you look guilty in a jury’s eyes.  

Police May Cause You to Give a False Confession or False Information 

Even if you don’t intend to be dishonest, it is very difficult to tell the same story more than once in the same way. Police may ask you to repeat details of your story over and over again. If you change even one little detail, they may accuse you of lying and try to use that change against you later on if you must testify under oath at a court hearing or trial. Again, the prosecutor may use your previous statements to try and say that you are lying.  

You may also be tempted to tell a white lie if you feel like your credibility is questioned. If you feel like the police are trying to make you look bad or insinuate that you did something wrong, you may feel the need to embellish the truth or say that things occurred a little differently than they did. But, again, these statements can return to haunt you at a later court hearing or trial.  

Finally, false confessions do happen. When people are under the stress of interrogation by police and trying to make things right, they may admit to things that they don’t mean. The police may twist their words, lie, or use other techniques to coerce them into a false confession. Without the protection of a lawyer when speaking to the police, this could happen to you.  

Contact Rosenberg, Perry & Associates, LLC for Legal Advice 

We are here to represent your interests when you are facing criminal charges. The consequences of a criminal conviction for any offense can be severe, so protecting your rights throughout your criminal case can be crucial. Call us today at (609) 216-7400 or contact us online today and see how we can help.