Can my girlfriend ignore a police investigation?
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Can my girlfriend ignore a police investigation?
I got charged with domestic violence for punching a hole in the wall. My case got
dismissed as soon as I got into court, however the police are still trying to contact my girlfriend to further investigate. Can she just continue to ignore the police?
Asked on October 9, 2018 under Criminal Law, Arizona
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
Unless supoenaed, she need not speak with the police. In fact she should not until then; she is under no legal duty to do so. This is true even if the show up to her house. The police are trained and experienced in getting people to make incriminating statements about either themselves or others. So until she consults directly with a local criminal law attorney, she should not submit to any police questioning.
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
She can ignore them until and unless they subpoena her to appear or speak to them. Once the authorities resort to legal process, she has to comply or else be subject to punishment, up and including imprisonment. But as long as they are just asking informally (no legal process used), she can ignore them.
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