Denver, CO criminal defense attorney David Lindsey talks what to do if the CO police want to interview you. He explains that if law enforcement contacts someone and requests an interview—which happens in almost every case—that individual should never speak with the police without an attorney present. Anything that can be said without counsel present can also be said with counsel, but with the added protection of legal guidance.

He notes that police often contact individuals because the strategy works; people are eager to share their side of the story. Officers frequently say they want to hear the person’s perspective before deciding how to proceed. However, in reality, law enforcement is often seeking either a full confession or, at minimum, statements that conflict with the information they already possess. Those inconsistencies can then be used to strengthen the prosecution’s case and further their investigation.