zlacker

> but understand that if a police officer is talking to you, they're digging for information to incriminate you

Are you sure you're not exaggerating? I've totally seen incidents where cops were only talking to see if they've even found the right person. They lose interest pretty damn quickly when they realize they're talking to the wrong person (even to the point of rejecting extra evidence you might offer yourself). Whereas I'm pretty damn sure in these cases you cause yourself a lot of (short-term maybe, but still) grief if you suddenly go on the defensive and plead the 5th. It unnecessarily makes you look guilty, whereas a couple minutes of talking can make it crystal clear to them you're totally clueless.

>>mehrda+(OP)
In my experience, no, I am not exaggerating. In my run-ins with police, they had no clear suspect, so everyone was a suspect. In one case, they questioned me, and had me go through a polygraph test. They didn't inform me of my rights to an attorney, because I was not formally arrested. They also did all of this without legal representation or parents (I was 16). They did it just to be able to tell me that I failed, and that I should confess now and they would go easy on me. For a crime I didn't commit. They even lied about what I said at the scene of the crime to say that I contradicted myself, or the responding officer wrote it down wrong.

I do not believe it is a good idea to speak to police unless they have a clear suspect, motive, evidence, and other indicators they are not fishing for you to be the suspect.

I firmly, firmly, firmly believe short-term hassle and a lawyer's bill are much better than the long-term ramifications of an arrest, even if you are not convicted ultimately.

>>Loughl+Q5
They could very well have been lying to you about failing the polygraph test too. They are legally allowed to lie to you.

Of course, they can arrest you even if you don't talk to them. It's ultimately up them whether to arrest you, not to you. You don't necessarily get out of getting arrested by not talking to them. (If they say you can get out of getting arrested by talking to them, they can be lying!). But you make it much worse by talking to them.

>>jrochk+wU
They 100% were lying to me.

I spoke to a family friend who quit the police department I was dealing with over ethical concerns. He said that it was pretty standard practice, especially when dealing with a case they had zero suspects on. He said, "they'll bring you in, they'll tell you you failed, and they'll tell you that if you confess, they'll go easy on you because you're so young. It's not the results that matter on a polygraph, it's the answers you give. Don't lie, and don't incriminate yourself."

He was 100% correct. They brought me back to the station, into an interrogation room, and after about an hour of waiting, told me exactly what he said they would.

I lost all respect for law enforcement through that process.