Can police make deals with suspects?

Question

I have often heard that police officers tell their suspect that they will get a much lighter sentence if they confess and/or snitch on others.

I read recently that cops actually have no influence on a suspect's sentencing.

I think it's so unfair that a cop can tell his suspect that he can get a reduced sentence by divulging information, but they have to do it right then.

Can cops make deals?

If no, do you believe it is ethical of them to trick suspects?

Answer 1

Cops make deals all the time.  It's called going letting the small fish go and going after the bigger ones.  True the cops can't reduce the suspects sentence but as mentioned above, they do talk to the district attorneys and together the work out deals with the suspects.  Cops do offer not to charge the suspects with all the fresh / current charges they are arrested for at the time of their arrest in lue of giving up information.  You would be suprised on how many people give up their "friends" in order to save their own rump!!  

Answer 2

yes and no

Answer 3

yes they can and yes they do..it's the old saying sometimes you throw the little fish back so you can catch the big one. I think it is fair if it helps get a bigger monster off the street. The problem is you get rid of one and another pops up in it's place

Answer 4

a cop can choose what to charge a person..they may depending upon the person's cooperation, not charge them for say..evasion, if they agree to give up someone else.  

Answer 5

It is totally ethical for the cops to trick suspects.  Imagine a drug dealer.  Some cop goes to make a buy.  The drug dealer says, "are you a cop?"  Well, gee, if he says "yes', no deal and therefore no proof.  The cop has to have the ability to say "no" and still make the arrest count.  Courts have upheld cops lying to suspects ("your buddy is ratting you out right now - if you want to be the one to go free and not him, you'd better start talking").  If you are not guilty, frankly, this is a non-issue.

Cops do have influence.  They do not have decision making power - that's the DA's job, but unless the DA is a total jerk, he/she will listen to the cop when the cop says, "we told this guy we would go easy on him if he flipped on his buddy".

Cops tell you that you have to decide right now for the same reason high pressure salesmen do - they don't want you to have the opportunity to assess the situation.  They don't want you and your buddy to talk to each other (maybe via your lawyers).  They don't want you to get your stories straight and synced up.  Frankly, you may figure out that they don't have a case if somebody doesn't flip, in which case it would be in you and your buddy's best interest not to talk.  They want you to make your decision in a vacuum.

Is it ethical?  It may be a gray area, but it is way more ethical than the crimes cops are preventing.  Frankly, our justice system bends over backwards to make sure that a suspect has their rights protected, as it should.  However, all too often, this means that criminals slip through the cracks.  Frankly, most anything that keeps more criminals from slipping through those cracks is okay with me - it would have to get way more unethical than lying to a suspect to cross the line for me.

Obey the law, and you don't have any problems.  That's my advice to you.

Answer 6

they probably do

they shape the way the trial moves

they are key witnesses in the trial

they know how the system works inside out and so they know how to manipulate it

theoretically and legally they dont have any influence on the suspect's sentencing

so then practically yes they can make deals and then make good on their deals

it probably happens all the time.

what happens whats practical and whats legal..theres a huge difference there

Answer 7

yeah freedom for a donut! hahaha

no but really i know many that bribe and also that take stuff... so u can go

Answer 8

True, they dont have any influence on the sentencing, but they are the ones that talk to the DA and the DA does.

Answer 9

No,

they try that BS all the time to get the people to roll over on someone. The cops can't make deals with anybody.