You Have the Right to Remain Innocent

by James J. Duane

Memorize these two questions so you will not be tempted to answer any others: Who are you? What are you doing right here, right now?

The bottom line is plain: you cannot safely trust a single word that you hear from the mouth of a police officer who is trying to get you to talk.

What you tell the police, with extremely rare exceptions, will never be revealed to the jury at your trial unless it is offered by the prosecutor and is used to help get you convicted.

You need to say, with no adverbs, in only four words, “I want a lawyer.” And then you need to say it again, and again, until the police finally give up and realize they are dealing with someone who knows how our legal system really works.