People often do not realize that law enforcement officers are able to employ tactics like deception, manipulation and coercion when dealing with suspects. These high-pressure approaches can sometimes result in unjust convictions and the incarceration of innocent people, including teenagers.
It is important for citizens of all ages to understand the impact of police deception during investigations.
Police can lie to suspects
Law enforcement officers do not have to tell the truth when investigating suspects. Police can use deceptive tactics to encourage suspects to confess to charges and supply information. Unfortunately, sometimes police deception can result in false confessions and wrongful convictions. A study showed that 29% of wrongful convictions of innocent people involved a false confession.
It is crucial that people facing police investigations and questions from law enforcement remember their rights. Suspects can remain silent and refuse to answer incriminating questions. Furthermore, people undergoing police questioning have the right to have legal representation present.
Minors and police deception
The brains of children and adolescents are still developing, which means deceptive and manipulative tactics by law enforcement can be particularly effective. Young people can feel social pressure to confess to actions they did not take and falsely incriminate themselves to police officers. Confessions obtained through coercion can lead to the unjust incarceration of minors. Many juveniles who have received unfair convictions encountered manipulation and lies from the police. Although some states have restricted the use of police deception when questioning juveniles, in many others, including Georgia, the practice remains legal.
Police deception can manipulate suspects into incriminating themselves and contribute to false confessions and wrongful convictions. Young people may be especially vulnerable to these tactics.
