Why You Should Never Confess
The most damaging thing that a criminal defendant can do during police questioning is to confess. It becomes extremely difficult for your Sacramento criminal defense attorney to help you if you make a confession, as it gives the police a very effective piece of evidence to use against you.
However, in some cases an officer will testify to a confession that was not recorded in any notes or report. Your Sacramento criminal defense lawyer should be able to attack this testimony to question its veracity.
Questioning the Officer’s MemoryYour Sacramento criminal defense attorney might try arguing that the officer’s memory of a statement made months or years ago is not that reliable. The officer might have interviewed hundreds of suspects and witnesses for various crimes in the time since, and is supposed to keep careful records of who says what to preserve evidence.
Police officers should have the experience and training to know that an arrestee’s exact words are important evidence, and to keep written records to put together a case. The law even requires that the prosecutor turn these reports over to your Sacramento criminal defense lawyer so that you can better prepare your defense.
Statements Not Recorded/WrittenUsing this line of questioning in cross-examination, your Sacramento criminal defense attorney might argue that the jury should not place any weight on a statement that the officer did not even bother to write down, and that the prosecution’s whole case is questionable without this evidence.
For an Attorney Who Will Fight for YouGet the best Sacramento criminal defense attorney you can. Call Param Pabla at (916) 285-7900.