Is it better to cooperate with the police or remain silent when questioned?
A. If you are under an arrest or in a custodial interrogation where you are not free to leave, you have a constitutional right to remain silent. If you do answer questions, anything you say can be used against you at trial by the prosecution. The fact that you refused to answer questions cannot be mentioned to the jury or used against you. The best decision is to remain silent and request an attorney immediately. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will be able to advise on whether and how you should respond to questioning.
