When called in for questioning by the police, most people think that the police always tell the truth. However, the police can lie to get to the truth. Although there are limits, it’s legal for police to lie during an interrogation in Wisconsin. Nevertheless, there’s an increase in movements working to ban such practices in the country. Here’s all you need to know about deception in police interrogations.
Police can fabricate evidence to get a confession
During an interrogation, police can claim they have evidence even though the evidence is non-existent. This tactic is mainly used in drug offenses and theft cases. Since evidence such as DNA takes a long period to process, fabricating evidence is the easiest way for police to get a confession. Apart from lying about the existence of evidence, police can also create fake evidence to show during an interrogation.
Being open with the police won’t help
If you’ve ever been into an interrogation room, police might have told you that telling the truth will lighten your sentence. This is a common lie told by the police. Unfortunately, police cannot influence your sentencing. Only the district attorney has the mandate of reducing your sentence in exchange for a confession. Thus, telling the truth will only prove that you’re guilty. As a suspect, you should only share the truth with your attorney.
Are there limits?
Most states have few limits for deceptive interrogation. However, before any interrogation, the police must read the Miranda rights to each suspect. A suspect may decide to remain silent or exercise the right to an attorney before speaking to the police. If the police decide not to or forget to read the Miranda rights, a court may decide to review the tactics used by the police, which might result in dropped or reduced charges.
If you have been arrested by the police, consider consulting a defense attorney. An experienced attorney might help you understand your rights and avoid incriminating yourself during an interrogation.
