In New York, police often lie to juvenile suspects in an effort to get them to confess to a crime. This is a highly controversial practice and one that criminal defense lawyers often challenge in court. There are many reasons why police might choose to lie to a suspect, and the suspects themselves and their families need to understand how to protect their rights in this context.
How do police usually lie to juvenile suspects?
Some examples of how police might lie to a juvenile suspect include telling them that they have evidence that implicates the suspect when they actually don’t or telling the suspect that if they confess then they will be able to go home. Also, police might threaten the suspect with a harsher sentence if they don’t confess.
Why do police lie to juvenile suspects?
One reason is that they may believe that the suspect is more likely to confess if they are afraid or intimidated. Another reason is that the police may want to obtain a confession quickly in order to close the case.
All of these tactics are designed to get the suspect to lower their guard and to confess to a crime that they may not have committed.
What should a juvenile suspect do?
If you are a juvenile suspect who is being interrogated by police, it is important that you understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent and you have the right to an attorney. You should exercise these rights and not say anything to the police until you have a criminal defense attorney beside you.
Imagine what would happen if a 13-year-old got interrogated by the police without a parent or lawyer present, and the police start telling the child and say that they have evidence implicating them in a crime. The child, being scared and alone, might confess to a crime that they didn’t commit just to get the interrogation to stop.
The criminal justice system is typically designed to protect the rights of suspects, but in practice, those rights are often violated. If you are a juvenile suspect who is being interrogated by police, make sure to understand your rights and exercise them.