You have the right to remain silent, but there are better ways to exercise that right than others.

A 2013 ruling by the Supreme Court, Salinas v. Texas, states that choosing to remain silent can be used against you in the court of law if you do not formally assert your Fifth Amendment privilege. This ruling means that if you aren’t clear about evoking your right to remain silent, it can be used against you.

Even if you feel confident that what you are sharing with police could never be misconstrued, it’s not worth taking that risk. You too easily can make factual errors that later are  interpreted as lies, eyewitness accounts could be incorrect, and police officers might make mistakes in recounting events. Just add some bad luck to the mix and you easily can wind up with a serious conviction. If you are approached by the police for any reason, the best course of action is simply to say, “I want a lawyer.” Nothing else.

Read the article here.