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SILENCE IS GOLDEN

Mike Hanna Sept. 5, 2019

The right to remain silent is a right that is guaranteed all persons under both Missouri and U.S. constitutions. Put another way, every citizen has the right to remain free from incriminating him or herself at any time when he or she believes that criminal trouble looms on the horizon.

The general human tendency or nature is to talk "when we are nervous." We find it easier to talk, even if we really don't know what we are saying, when we have the nervous stomach because, for some reason, it makes us feel better than just sitting quietly with our mouths shut. In many instances, this can be the wrong thing to do. When the police call you down to talk about a case, they want to make it seem like it is an innocent matter. You, as a free person and not believing that you have anything to hide, decide to go down and talk with the police. Before you know it, the police are interrogating you, treating you like you are a criminal and accusing you of robbing a bank, assaulting a person or committing some other crime which you swear you didn't have any involvement in. By the end of the meeting with the police, you have made a statement confessing to the crime and then your troubles really begin.

I am not trying to paint a picture of doom and gloom here. However, you must be aware of the fact that police receive many hours of training on how to break down people that they believe are involved in or have committed crimes. They are trained in the mental aspects of this mental game of breaking down possible perpetrators and getting them to confess. It is not uncommon for a police officer, during an interrogation, to call you a liar and to tell you just how bad things are going to be if you "don't come clean."

Deciding to go to talk to the police without the benefit of a lawyer is a decision that should not be made lightly. My personal belief is that you should not speak to a police officer for any reason at a police station without first consulting with an attorney and then deciding if you should have representation for that meeting. If you would like to have such a discussion with me or if I can be of any criminal assistance to you in the criminal arena, please feel free to contact me at 816-399-3359 to make an appointment.