In the state of Colorado, detectives can contact you if you’re suspected of a crime, or if you might be a witness to a crime that you didn’t necessarily take part in. Seeing officers come to your door can be a scary thing. Getting a call from a detective is even worse. Read this Blog and it may be the difference between getting arrested and convicted and never getting charged with a crime. Know your Rights to protect yourself and your family!
What Happens When Detectives Contact You?
If you’re the suspect in an investigation, detectives will likely contact you. Do you have to talk to them? Too many people think that if they have nothing to hide that they should go in and talk to a detective, clear the air, fix any kind of misunderstanding. This, however, can make the biggest mistake of your life. By willingly talking to the detectives, you allow them to get something out of you that you didn’t mean to say—or say something just because of the pressure of talking to the police.
It’s recommended that you preserve your rights and say nothing to the police. If you’re contacted by a detective over the phone or in-person, just tell them you want to preserve your 5th amendment right against self-incrimination, your 6th amendment right to an attorney, and your 4th amendment right against unlawful search and seizure. By doing this, you protect yourself from admitting something you didn’t mean to admit. This also gives your defense team more room to defend you because they are not restricted by statements you made to the police. You are not stating that you are guilty by protecting your rights. By talking to detectives, you only make their jobs easier and put yourself in jeopardy of being charged with a very serious crime.
What to Do if a Detective Calls You
If you’re contacted by a detective, you should talk to an attorney right away. Your attorney will be able to talk to law enforcement on your behalf and may be able to mitigate circumstances before charges are even brought to light. It is always in your best interest to seek legal counsel before it is too late. By staying a step ahead of the game, you ensure that you have the best legal defense options if your case does go to trial.
Often, when a detective calls someone and speaks to them over the phone regarding allegations, this conversation is recorded without the person’s knowledge. Too often, will people say things over the phone that they think won’t come back to haunt them. If you talk to a detective over the phone, you should assume that it is being recorded.
Talking to a Detective Over the Phone
Detectives might also have a spouse or someone in your inner circle call you. That person might attempt to keep you talking, in hopes that you will reveal information that can, in turn, be used against you. The police will also have that conversation recorded. This is called a pretextual phone call, and it is completely within the detectives’ rights during an investigation. The detectives will tell the person who is calling you to make promises such as “We can get back together if you just tell me the truth” or “I need to hear the truth; so the victim can get closure and move on”.
Police will use people close to you to get the information they want. They can even go as far as to put a wire on someone you trust who is really acting as an agent of the police, trying to get you to make statements that could incriminate you. The best thing to do is not speak with anyone about the details of your case except your attorney.
Police are not restricted in any way to get the information that they need. They can tell you whatever they think will get you to confess to a crime. Even if you say you didn’t do something 100 times, they will continue to ask you questions and try and get you to slip up. They may even pretend they believe you and that they’re on your side for you to trust them. Police will use this trust to get whatever evidence they need to make their case. They are not here to help you; they want to make their case as strong as possible is the end goal for them. Do you think the Police are not paid to protect you or obtain an arrest and a felony conviction?
Can a Detective Contact You During a Crisis Like COVID-19?
Yes, detectives can still contact people during COVID-19 because they can usually work remotely, meaning they’re able to do their jobs from home. This means they can still call you or even request a video interview so they can glean any information you might have. Remember, never answer phone calls from numbers you don’t know. If someone has something important to say, they’ll leave a message. If a detective leaves you a voicemail, you can easily forward it to your attorney so you don’t put yourself into harm’s way unintentionally.
Why You Need a Colorado Attorney if a Detective Contacts You
In Colorado, you have the right to have legal representation if a detective contacts you. Never answer a number you don’t know, and if someone shows up at your door, tell them you need to reach out to your attorney to speak with them on your behalf. It is your right under the law to have an attorney, and it’s the best thing you can do for yourself if a detective contacts you.
Bottom line: you may or may not have any idea why a detective is contacting you. In either case, you should protect your own best interests and steer clear of any conversations that could incriminate you, your friends, or family members down the line.
So to recap – call a lawyer for help not a detective if they are trying to prosecute you
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