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The police often lie to juvenile suspects

On Behalf of | Apr 6, 2022 | Criminal Defense |

A young person may lack judgment and life experience, leading to bad decisions. Those who commit crimes or find themselves suspected of criminal behavior might face interrogation in a New Jersey police precinct. Young persons could be naive enough to trust law enforcement officials, not realizing the police will often lie to juveniles to procure evidence.

The legal ability to lie

Some might wonder how the police gained the legal ability to lie to juveniles. A Supreme Court decision made the dubious practice legal, and law enforcement officials often take full advantage of the precedent. So, if a 14-year-old faces accusations about a crime, the police could lead the young person to make false and incriminating statements.

The ways police may lie to juveniles vary. An officer might claim to have photographic or video evidence implicating the young person. An officer could say credible witnesses placed the suspect at the scene. Or, the police might make several untrue statements intending to procure incriminating statements or a false confession.

Not knowing one’s rights

A criminal defense strategy might involve reviewing the evidence to determine if any civil rights violations occurred. If the police lacked probable cause to arrest the young person, any procured evidence might be inadmissible. Still, refraining from incriminating oneself could make things far less troubling for the juvenile.

A young person might try to talk his or her way out of trouble, only to worsen things. Lack of knowledge may extend to not understanding the right to remain silent or to have an attorney present during questioning. While things could become challenging for a juvenile defendant who falls into a police trap, an effective defense might lead to a positive result.

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