Consequence Escalation

During questioning, an officer may talk about serious things that could happen, like going to jail for a long time or facing more serious charges. They may compare those possibilities with what could happen if you confess or cooperate.

Hearing about these consequences can be scary, especially when you do not fully understand how the legal system works. You might start to feel like you only have two choices: confess and possibly get a better outcome, or keep denying what happened and face something much worse.

This can be especially powerful for young people, who may have a harder time judging how likely a future consequence really is when they are scared or under pressure. A young person may agree with what an officer is saying because they are focused on avoiding the worst outcome they have just heard about.

Remember: You do not have to make a decision because you are scared about what might happen. You have the right to ask for a lawyer and get legal advice before answering questions.