What advice does a suspect in a child abuse case need to hear right away?
He should not talk to the police or any other public agency about the accusation. If the suspect has information the police need, either to clear him or for any other purpose, he should pass it to them through counsel. In particular, the suspect should not agree to a police polygraph examination. Polygraph results are not always accurate. A failing score often leads to intense grilling for a confession. Even if the grilling produces no damaging statements, polygraph failure may influence the prosecutor to file a charge– either because it convinces her she has justice on her side, or because she fears the wrath of the child’s family if she declines to file a charge that has been “proven” by polygraph. Talking about the accusation to anyone but counsel is hazardous. The suspect may need to assure key people– his wife, for example– of his innocence, but he should not go beyond that until he discusses the situation in detail with counsel. If he has a confession to make, that, too, shoul
