Suppose a police officer believes you are a suspect of a reported crime. They may then initiate a formal line of questioning against you to gather further information on the alleged incident. This is all to elicit a confession of guilt from you and possibly solve the case. The same way you are supposed to answer these questions honestly, you may expect an officer to give you the same respect and be truthful. However, this is not always necessarily the case. So with that said, please continue reading to learn whether a police officer can lie while conducting an interrogation and how an experienced Morris County, New Jersey criminal defense lawyer at Macri Law Firm can protect your legal rights during this time.
Can a police officer lie during an interrogation?
You may be shocked to discover that a police officer is legally allowed to lie during an interrogation. This allowance originates from the Supreme Court case Frazier v. Cupp (1969), where the ruling was that lying was permissible so long as it did not cause a suspect’s involuntary confession or violate their constitutional rights. With that being said, police are allowed to deviate from the truth in any of the following ways:
- A police officer can lie about possessing evidence that compromises the suspect.
- A police officer can lie about witnesses testifying that they saw the suspect at the crime scene.
- A police officer can lie about another party who has confessed to the crime and cited the suspect’s involvement.
- A police officer can lie about the extent of their criminal charges and punishments if they are found guilty.
- A police officer can lie about the suspect receiving a lesser judgment if they confess to the crime now.
How can a police officer’s deceptive tactics create an issue?
Just because it is legally permissible for a police officer to lie during an interrogation does not necessarily mean it is ethical. That is, this practice may be considered problematic because it may pressure you into confessing guilt to a crime you never committed. You may especially be vulnerable to this if you have never been in trouble with the law, are unfamiliar with this deceptive tactic, and truly believe it is an easier way out if you involuntarily fess up to it.
This is why, to our clients, we always recommend they exercise their legal right to remain silent when a police officer begins pressing them with hard questions. You should only speak up when you ask an officer to get you a lawyer who can be present for the rest of the interrogation. If your lawyer believes that you have been lied to at any point, they may work on your behalf and file a motion to suppress evidence obtained through dismissal with the New Jersey criminal court.
As soon as you find yourself in potential legal trouble, you must retain representation and advisement from a skilled Morris County, New Jersey criminal defense lawyer at Macri Law Firm. You should not have to put up this fight alone; we are here to help you.