What Happens if You Refuse to Speak to the Police? | Lawyer Talk Q & A

I’m digging into a question I get all the time—should you talk to the police if they reach out and want you to come down to the station? I know this one makes a lot of folks nervous, especially if you’re worried that staying quiet might make you look guilty, but you’re also hearing that you should never talk to the police without a lawyer.

In this episode, I’m sharing a real scenario from a listener (names changed, of course!) whose son was asked to speak with officers about an incident involving a girl he met. I’ll break down the reasons why going in to talk to the police—especially if you don’t know exactly what they’re asking about—can be a risky move. I’ll even tell you about a case from my own practice where talking to the cops made things a whole lot harder, even though my client thought he was just clearing things up.

So if you’ve ever wondered what the right move is when the police want to “just ask a few questions,” stick around. I’m here to give you some real talk on what to do—and what not to do—if you’re ever in that situation. Let’s get into it!

Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Call 614-859-2119 and leave us a voicemail. Steve will answer your question on the next podcast!

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high-publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2025 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

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Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of their marketing strategy. The firm emphasizes the importance of storytelling through podcasting to differentiate businesses and engage with their audiences effectively. www.circle270media.com