Ideally a criminal trial is to seek the truth and more evidence should increase the likelihood of arriving at the truth. Of course, quilty persons would do their best to conceal the truth. Do we teach our children be truthful or to impede the course of justice?
“Do we teach our children to be truthful or to impede the course of justice?”
We should teach our children that they have constitutional rights. Is it a good idea to teach kids to be respectful? Of course. A “yes sir” and “no mam” goes a long way. However, the police investigate crime and arrest. They aren’t social workers and they aren’t your “friends”. A simple, “I would rather speak to my parents since I AM A JUVENILE” means the conversation is over. A “I’d rather seek legal counsel” means the conversation is over.
With respect to “ to be truthful”... the police can and will threaten an arrest as a bluff. They are allowed to do so. They can state they have evidence against you and NOT. They can also say a warrant will be issued when they have no intention of doing so. All of this is completely legal. Any person (adult or juvenile) who thinks they should be the “truthful” person and allow any sort of search and answer every question is ignorant not only of their constitutional rights but how the police interact with the public in doing their jobs. Ask any criminal attorney and he/she will tell you (innocent or guilty) to keep your mouth shut, act respectful and always state you want to speak to an attorney (or if you are a juvenile.. you want your parents).
“Do we teach our children to be truthful or to impede the course of justice?”
We should teach our children that they have constitutional rights. Is it a good idea to teach kids to be respectful? Of course. A “yes sir” and “no mam” goes a long way. However, the police investigate crime and arrest. They aren’t social workers and they aren’t your “friends”. A simple, “I would rather speak to my parents since I AM A JUVENILE” means the conversation is over. A “I’d rather seek legal counsel” means the conversation is over.
With respect to “ to be truthful”... the police can and will threaten an arrest as a bluff. They are allowed to do so. They can state they have evidence against you and NOT. They can also say a warrant will be issued when they have no intention of doing so. All of this is completely legal. Any person (adult or juvenile) who thinks they should be the “truthful” person and allow any sort of search and answer every question is ignorant not only of their constitutional rights but how the police interact with the public in doing their jobs. Ask any criminal attorney and he/she will tell you (innocent or guilty) to keep your mouth shut, act respectful and always state you want to speak to an attorney (or if you are a juvenile.. you want your parents).
Re: “Do we teach our children be truthful or to impede the course of justice?”
That’s a false choice.
The “Right to remain silent” is guaranteed by the Constitution, which was created to be a guarantor of inalienable rights and justice.
In any event, within the foreseeable future, technology will bring an end to most criminal activity.
Only the worst sociopaths and addicts will continue to break the law in a world that has a database of most DNA and fingerprints, GPS in every vehicle, wearable GPS on most parolees and recidivists, universal high definition surveillance, billions of camera phones, and records of every phone call and email.
Everyone else will have to plead guilty in the face of overwhelming physical evidence, whether they talk to the Police, or not.