When police interrogators lie when questioning suspects

If investigating officers have lied to you during interrogations, you may have a case to get your conviction overturned or reviewed.

Laura Gonzalez’s conviction overturned

The New Jersey Supreme Court on February 8, 2022, in State v. Laura Gonzalez (A-47-20) (085132), overturned the conviction of the defendant Laura Gonzalez, who was earlier found guilty of assaulting an infant in her care. 

Detective Reyes interviewed the defendant at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office after the defendant agreed to provide a videotaped statement after waiving her Miranda rights. The defendant, who worked as an in-home nanny, initially denied any responsibility for Tommy’s injuries, the child in her care. As the interview continued, however, Detective Reyes told the defendant that video surveillance cameras in the home captured footage of her interactions with Tommy; in truth, no cameras existed in the home. Eventually, the defendant acknowledged that she was “full of anger” and admitted to shaking, swinging, hitting, suffocating, and throwing Tommy.

Judge questions continued use of lies and trickery is a constitutionally permissible practice

This was one of the grounds for overturning the conviction.  JUSTICE ALBIN, concurring, joins the opinion of the Court in full but writes to highlight the use of lies by Detective Reyes during the interrogation.  Justice Albin raises questions about the Court’s current jurisprudence, which “gives officers leeway to tell some lies during an interrogation,” see id. at 44, and expresses the view that the Court will have to decide, when the issue is fully presented, whether the continued use of lies and trickery is a constitutionally permissible practice — whether it is a principled and sufficiently reliable means of inducing a truthful confession from a suspect.

Protect your right to justice

If investigating officers have lied to you during interrogations, you may have a case to get your conviction overturned or reviewed.

For years, attorney Joel Silberman served as an Assistant Prosecutor with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. During this time, Attorney Joel litigated hundreds of cases and appeared before the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division on multiple occasions.

Contact the Law Office of Joel Silberman, who will help you get the justice you deserve. Contact us at 201-420-1913 or joel@joelsilbermanlaw.com.