Now I just remembered Jesus didn’t talked very little when he was hauled before authorities, but he was innocent. Isaiah 53:7, Matt 26:63. Still inclined to confess if I am guilty of sin (diff from being guilty of illegal activity) and keep quiet if I am inncoent of sin and trust God. Don’t worry about this judicial system, worry about the next one! I Peter 2:23, Rev 20:12

Usually the police don’t know the law, and arrest because they don’t like the message, therefore the arrestee is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Also, you can only arrest someone if you have probable cause. If I remember right, since you have no obligation to answer the police’s questions before you are detained, they are not allowed to use that refusal to talk as evidence of probable cause.

In short, courts won’t allow police to arrest you merely because you refused to talk voluntarily, and if they have more convincing evidence, your talking will almost always fail to get you out of being arrested.

But I’m curious about how you got the video to start at the relevant point. Do you have to have a YouTube account to do that?

Sorry, utterly mundane question compared to the above comments, but it’s where I’m at this morning.

The hallmark of our criminal justice system is that the state MUST prove through LAWFUL means that the accused person committed the crime. The accused person does not have to help them do this; it’s the state’s job.

The important thing to remember is that if the government does not have to prove through lawful means that the guiltiest person on the planet committed the crime . . . they don’t have to prove you did either. The system is to safeguard the rights of the people from being railroaded by a powerful police state. And, if that doesn’t apply to the foulest, most vile offender, then it doesn’t apply to you, the innocent.

Also, as a defense lawyer I have had the opportunity to be a light to a lot of people in a very dark place. Who better than Christians to counsel those who are living in the hell of poor choices and often worse circumstances?

He makes some good points. I don’t think the ‘take your time, try to cut a deal’ approach is good. It feels a bit counter-intuitive to bringing sin out into the light.

Defence lawyer must be a hard job for a Christian…

Let’s say you’re innocent and say Yes, and answer their questions many times they’ll let you go on your way.

But if you’re innocent and say ‘no’ they will have reason to be suspicious of you and get a warrant or bring you in or call in higher officials.

All avoided by people who just answer their questions. All over the country. Every day.

I plan to never be in a situation where I need this advice. But I also know that I plan to say nothing to the police either – I’d rather wait for the trial, when things are more out in the open.

I was curious about him being a Christian because he kept mentioning people in your Bible study as examples!

Be careful about making hasty judgments!

-A law student who loves Jesus

The police rounded up a dozen African American males and took them “downtown for questioning”. And me, the white male, covered in blood and found in between the two guys fighting, was I questioned?

No. I tried to give a statement, and was consistently brushed off and told to go away.

If I was a black male rounded up for questioning, I would shut up.