When you’re sitting across the table from a police officer in an Illinois interrogation room, understand this, they are not your friend, and the law does not require them to tell you the truth. We’ve seen it too many times: people walking into that room thinking honesty will save them, only to walk out with handcuffs on. Let us be perfectly clear, police in Illinois are legally allowed to lie to you during an interrogation. If you don’t have a lawyer sitting next to you, you are at a serious disadvantage.
Under Illinois law, there’s no statute that prohibits police deception during questioning for adults. They can falsely claim they have evidence. They can say a co-defendant has already talked. They can imply you’re going to get a lighter sentence if you confess. These tactics are legal and used frequently to manipulate confessions.
But here’s what they don’t want you to know, we know their games, and we know how to destroy their strategy. At Edward Johnson & Associates, we tear apart deceptive tactics. When the police try to use a false confession against you, we challenge the voluntariness under Illinois case law and push to suppress it under your constitutional rights. Under the Fifth Amendment, and reinforced by Miranda v. Arizona, you have the right to remain silent. Use it.
Police Are Not Permitted To Lie To Minors
There is one exception where the law has finally caught up. Illinois passed a statute, 705 ILCS 405/5-401.5, that prohibits law enforcement from lying to minors during custodial interrogations. If you’re under 18, and police lie to you to get a confession, that confession can be deemed inadmissible in court. That’s progress, but it doesn’t help adults. And adults get manipulated every single day.
We’ve watched prosecutors walk into courtrooms armed with so-called confessions that were wrung out of our clients with threats, pressure, and psychological warfare. They don’t intimidate us. We dissect those interviews line by line. We expose the coercion, the lies, and the manipulation. We motion to suppress, and we fight like hell.
Our strategy doesn’t stop in the courtroom. We often prevent charges from being filed at all by getting ahead of the investigation. If you’re under pressure, don’t talk. Call us. The sooner we’re involved, the more control we have over your defense.
Criminal Defense Frequently Asked Questions
Can Police Pretend They Have Evidence During An Interrogation?
Yes. Police in Illinois are legally allowed to lie about having fingerprints, DNA, video footage, or witness statements. These lies are intended to create panic and provoke confessions. The courts have upheld this as a legitimate tactic in adult interrogations. That’s why you need us involved immediately, we know how to handle these tactics and use them against the state.
What If The Police Lied To Me And I Confessed?
If your confession was obtained through lies, we may be able to challenge its admissibility. Illinois courts look at the totality of circumstances. If we can prove the confession was coerced or involuntary, we can file a motion to suppress under your Fifth Amendment rights. We will build a timeline, analyze the tactics used, and cross-examine the interrogators if necessary.
Do I Have To Answer Any Questions During An Interrogation?
No. You have the absolute right to remain silent and request an attorney. Once you invoke your rights, law enforcement must stop questioning. Anything you say after invoking your rights can be challenged. We instruct every client: say nothing, ask for a lawyer, and wait for us.
Can Police Lie To Juveniles During Questioning?
Not anymore. Under 705 ILCS 405/5-401.5, confessions obtained from minors through deceptive tactics are inadmissible. This law recognizes the psychological vulnerability of minors and protects them from manipulation. If your child has been questioned, we will review every second of that interview and move to exclude any tainted confession.
How Can I Tell If I’m Being Interrogated?
If police are asking questions designed to elicit incriminating responses and you are not free to leave, you’re being interrogated. You don’t need to be under arrest. The key is whether you are in custody and whether the questioning is meant to get a confession. The moment that happens, your Miranda rights kick in, and you should stop talking.
Can I Be Charged Even If I Stay Silent?
Yes, but staying silent protects your case. Prosecutors can build charges with other evidence, but if you talk, you’re giving them more. Our job is to fight every piece of that case. But once you talk to the police, you’re making our job harder. Silence gives us leverage. Talking gives them ammunition.
Should I Ever Talk To The Police Without A Lawyer?
Absolutely not. We cannot stress this enough: never talk to the police without us sitting beside you. No matter how innocent you are, no matter how confident you feel, it is never a good idea. Police are trained interrogators. You need trained defense attorneys. That’s where we come in.
Speak With A Defense Firm That Fights For You
At Edward Johnson & Associates, we do not play defense; we go on offense. If you’ve been interrogated, arrested, or even contacted by police, it’s time to get serious. We protect our clients like we would protect our own family, with force, with strategy, and without apology. Do not sit back and hope for the best. Call us now and let us take control of your case.
Contact our Chicago criminal defense lawyer at Edward Johnson & Associates P.C. by calling 708-762-8666 to receive your free consultation. We serve clients throughout Chicago and across the entire Chicagoland metro. You don’t get a second chance to protect your rights. Let the bulldogs in your corner do what we do best: fight back.