Expert: Robin Sexton - 7/8/2009

Question
What information does the investigator have to tell a suspect about evidence. Can the suspect ask to be told if / how the evidence is linked to the suspect?

Answer
Russell,

The investigator does not have to tell the suspect or victims, witnesses anything.  A lot of times evidence is withheld to help confirm truthful confessions from false confessions.  Further you may not want the suspect to change their behavior in case there is a future similar crime.  Further investigators can tell suspects that evidence exists when it really doesn't.  However once the case gets to court everything is out in the open.  Investigators at the end of an investigation may lay everything out for the suspect just to overpower them with how much evidence has been amassed.  In hopes of getting cooperation, a statement or a plea.  The suspect can ask but does not have a right to any information.

Hope that helped

robin