Most people understand that they have the right to remain silent when officers of the law ask them questions, but it is not always easy to understand how exactly one invokes his or her Fifth Amendment right to silence. If a suspect waits too long to invoke this right, he or she may accidentally say something that alters the course of an investigation, incriminating them.
This is true when it comes to white collar charges as well as other kinds of criminal charges. If a suspect faces questioning from an official agency about some white collar offense, he or she can simply refuse to speak about the matter without an attorney present. The suspect does not owe the agents or officers an explanation, and any explanation at that point may do more harm than good.
If a suspect needs to invoke the right to remain silent, he or she may simply say
- “I am invoking my right to remain silent”
- “I want to remain silent”
- “I want to speak with my attorney before I answer any more questions”
These are not the only ways a person may invoke his or her right to silence, but they are simple and effective.
If you do face white collar charges, you need to begin building a strong criminal defense as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the fewer legal options you may have, while the prosecution only has that much more time to build the case against you. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process of building your defense, ensuring that your rights remain secure as you sort out this frustrating legal issue.
Source: FindLaw, “Invoking the Right to Remain Silent,” accessed Feb. 09, 2018