Talking in the US context. The Miranda warning says anything you say can be used against you in a court of law but never to support your case. So as I see it talking to the cops makes no sense irrespective of whether you have committed a crime or not. So why do suspects sit for hours long interviews with the cops?
Edit:- “… never to support your case”. As some commenters pointed out the Miranda warning doesn’t say that. That’s right, I meant it in an implicit way. I just saw a defense attorney’s YT video who said that’s the hidden part.
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I think k way too many people here are judging others for talking, calling them “stupid”. It might help to have even a bit of empathy here, most average (white) people trusted law enforcement until very recently. Even now many do. Combined with the fact that these are professionals who have a LOT of experience in getting people to talk and it’s probably the most stressful position an average person has ever been in and it’s not a lack of intelligence or anything. Even quite smart people can start talking very easily. If you are innocent it’s VERY hard to sit there while accused of heinous things and just not defend yourself. You feel INTENSELY like it makes you look guilty and the police will use that. You just want to give obvious statements that show you couldn’t do it, and surely they will understand!
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