Making Statements to Police | Houston Criminal Attorney
Attorney Dan Cogdell
You’ve been involved in a situation. You don’t think you’ve committed a crime, but now you’ve learned that the police want to come talk to you. What do you do? Do you make a statement or not make a statement? Hello. My name is Dan Cogdell. I’m a criminal defense lawyer here in the state of Texas, and I have been for 32 years.
Should You Make a Statement?
You’ve just learned that the police want to come talk to you, and you’re concerned about whether or not to make a statement. And one of the reasons that you’re concerned, is you believe that the police might think it’s suspicious, or might think it more likely that you are involved or guilty of a crime if you don’t make a statement.
So shouldn’t you make a statement? The answer to that is no. You should not make a statement until you’ve sat down and met with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Why are you saying that Dan? Why are you telling me not to make a statement? The answer is pretty simple. You don’t know what the police think, you don’t know what the police suspect, and you don’t know how the police are categorizing you. You shouldn’t make a statement, you shouldn’t answer a question if you are even possibly or remotely suspected of being involved in a crime, until you’ve sat down with a good lawyer who’s gone over the facts with you, and explain the law to you, and you have come to a decision along with that good lawyer to make a statement or not make a statement.
Police Are Not Your Friend
Forget about whether or not the police like you or going to be suspicious, or going to think it more likely or less likely. You’re not here to be a police officer’s friend or buddy, you’re here to make sure your statements are properly advised and properly given or not given.
If you have more questions, if you have more concerns, if you need more answers, call me, and we’ll help you if we can. My name is Dan Cogdell. Thank you for watching.