I’ve been watching a bunch of police interrogation videos on YouTube lately and it seems like a big strategy when they want to turn up the pressure is to move their seat forward so their knees are basically touching the person they’re interrogating.
So my question is… innocent or not, are you allowed to ask them to give you your personal space back? Regardless of why I was in there I’d be super uncomfortable with a detective 6 inches away from me, which is probably the point, but I was wondering how much right you’d have to some personal space in that situation if you asked for it (and were not yet under arrest).
Probably a stupid question but if anyone knows the answer I’d love to hear it!
Comments
You can ask, but I doubt they’ll comply. There’s no law saying you can’t tell them to move back, but there’s also no law saying they can’t be that close to you.
You can ask whatever you want.
They are not obliged to do what you ask them.
> much right you’d have to some personal space in that situation
None.
You can, but they also don’t have to comply and they have no obligation to make you more comfortable.
You can just end the interrogation. Tell them you’re exercising your right to remain silent and your right to have an attorney present.
You can—but they’ll just scoot closer out of spite and call it “building rapport.”
You can move yourself back, but the best thing to do is to verbally invoke your right to be silent. Verbally invoke your right to counsel and then stop talking. Just staying silent has been ruled by the supreme Court as not being the same as verbally invoking your rights. Which means they can use your silence against you in trial if you did not verbally communicate that right. Which seems counter intuitive, but hey, I don’t have any say in the supreme law of the land.
You can ask, baby.
The conclusion from all of these youtube videos is that you should never, ever volunteer any information, even if you are innocent, and even if it seems harmless. Ask for a lawyer, and do exactly what your lawyer tells you to do.
If you’re at the stage where an investigator is turning up the heat AND YOU NOTICE IT, then you are a suspect in their eyes. Invoke your rights and shut the fuck up.
First, you should never be talking to a cop without a lawyer.
Second? If I were being interrogated? When the cop leans forward? I’d lean MORE forward. If he leans even MORE forward? “Officer. It’s unprofessional of you to try to kiss me during an interview. Please keep a professional distance.”
That’s a question for your attorney. Never, ever, speak to a cop without one.
Give a shy smile and put your hand on their knee. Or accidentally touch their foot with yours. Let them know closeness is flirting, not intimidating. (Also works with the “get up in your face thing”. Half-close your eyes and tilt your head.)
Invading the personal space is one of the first things taught for interrogation. It makes the person feel uneasy and puts them on edge.
You can ask them to do anything you want to, but the smarter play is to never agree to an interrogation in the first place
Just say this: “Offier, I need to warn you that I have herpes (STD transmissible through saliva), if I accidentally spit on you while talking, you should get tested”
Sure definitely ask
Yes you can ask them anything you want.
Other than “lawyer”, Do. Not. Say. Anything.
Not. One. Word. Nothing you say can help you. At all. Not a damn thing.
Ask for an attorney, ask for an attorney, ask for an attorney!!
You can end it altogether.
Never talk to the police. If they’re interrogating you, the only things to say are, “I would like to leave now,” and “Get me a lawyer.”
If you’re not under arrest, you can just leave. If you are under arrest, you can ask for a lawyer. If you’re not under arrest, you probably still want to ask for a lawyer.
I tell my children and grandchildren lawyer the fuck up and don’t say a word till the lawyer gets there.
If you are uncomfortable with the interview, then it’s as easy as 1 question:
Am I under arrest?
A) No.
R) Then I’m going home.
Or
A) Yes.
R) I want an attorney.
You’re allowed to ask for whatever you want; but they’re not required to listen.
For everyone’s information, the only thing you should ever say to the police if you’re accused of a crime (in the U.S.) is “I’m sorry, but I don’t want to answer any questions, and I want a lawyer, please.” If they are asking to search your clothes or to enter your house, you can say “I am not resisting, but I do not consent to any searches of my person, property, or home.” Then SHUT THE GOD DAMN HELL UP. This lecture by Professor James Duane and Virginia Beach police officer George Bruch explains why and is worth everyone’s time, even over a decade later.
I’m going to start asking for legal advice under the guise of watching crime TV shows from now on
You shouldn’t talk to them period.