Practically every Texas resident has had discussions with a police officer at some point. Some of those discussions are investigative, and some are not. However, it is important to remember that anything said to a police officer could become part of an investigation in the future if not right then and there. If they are wearing their uniform, they are more than likely on duty. And even if they are not, the information they receive could be used as a basis to begin asking questions. This is when it is important to know your rights when being asked to respond.
The right to remain silent
Everyone understands the concept of remaining silent when asked questions by the police. It is a basic criminal law principle. But, questioning typically does not work as it is portrayed in television shows. Police want answers when they ask questions in an investigation, and if you are a targeted suspect, it is often best to say as little as possible. Ideally, you should remain silent.
Understanding the REID process
All law enforcement professionals are trained in using the REID questioning procedure. They put the suspect in a tenable situation of minimization and maximization of the potential outcome by encouraging responses. The problem with this technique is that the courts have continuously held police officers can lie to suspects at will if they suspect criminal behavior, but suspects who lie to police officers could receive additional charges beyond the primary legal matter if they do not answer accurately in the officer’s opinion.
Always remember that the playing field is not even when being interrogated by police, and it is designed that way. You are under no requirement to submit to interrogation, and it is often best to remain silent at some point and request to speak to legal counsel.