Being arrested for any crime in Florida is terrifying. It’s even scarier when you are interrogated by police when you know you’re innocent. It’s important to know what happens in these situations.
Do you have to answer questions?
Even if you are arrested on any type of criminal charge, you should know that you don’t have to submit to an interrogation by police. Unfortunately, many people, especially when innocent, are fearful enough that they end up answering questions and talking to the police. This often works against them as the police use certain tactics to get them to confess to a crime they didn’t commit.
You can immediately say you are invoking your right to remain silent. You can also ask to speak to an attorney.
What is the Reid technique?
The Reid technique is a tactic that police use for interrogations after questioning a person in connection with a crime. The technique has been around since the 1940s and involves a few elements to get a person to talk. The individual is isolated from others, often sitting inside a room without windows.
The police officer typically begins the interrogation by telling the person that they know they’re guilty and that they know it as well. The officer will then explain a theory and sometimes layout the evidence they have, but sometimes, there is no evidence at all. The purpose is to get everything into the suspect’s head so that they remember it later and can then repeat it back to the officer. The police officer also ignores or disputes claims of innocence from the person. This element is known as maximization.
Minimization is the final element of the Reid technique. The police officer tells the individual that their claims of innocence won’t be believed by anyone. However, the officer then changes their approach to seem sympathetic to the person as a way to get them to confess to the crime. Sadly, people who are innocent often end up confessing.
Police often lie to suspects to get them to confess to a crime they did not commit. If you have faced the same situation, you have a right to seek help to protect your rights.
