Why is it a bad idea to discuss the facts of the case with my friend or family member over the telephone when he or she calls from the detention center?
The Federal Defender Program advises all of its clients to refrain from making statements about the facts of their case over the telephone to anyone from the jail. There are many solid reasons for this, so please help your friend or family member to follow this advice by not asking and by discouraging such talk if the topic comes up. The advice that anything a defendant says can and will be used against them is sound advice. Further, detention center telephones do not offer privacy and are often recorded or monitored. Statements made over the telephone can be misunderstood or taken out of context. It is better to not discuss the subject than to take the risk that the statements could be used against your friend or family member and possibly worsen the situation. We thank you in advance for your help on this important point.
