When Police Are Trained to Believe One Side — Why You Need a Defense Lawyer Right Away
Across the country and in Hawaii, many police departments and prosecutors are encouraged to take part in programs such as Start By Believing, which are meant to support people who report sexual assault or abuse. These programs tell officers to automatically believe the accuser from the start.
Supporting real victims matters. But this mindset creates a serious problem for someone who has been wrongfully accused or whose situation is more complicated than it first appears. When an officer is trained to begin by believing one side, the person under investigation doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt — even before anyone fairly looks at the evidence.
How This Puts the Accused at a Disadvantage
When police begin by believing the accusation, it affects the entire investigation:
- Officers may look for evidence to support the accusation, instead of investigating both sides.
If they already assume the report is true, they may not search for information that contradicts it. - Your statements may be treated as lies or “excuses,” no matter how true they are.
The moment you try to explain yourself, the officer may already believe you’re covering up wrongdoing. - Innocent mistakes in your memory can be used against you.
If police assume the accuser is telling the truth, they often treat any uncertainty from you as proof of guilt. - Witnesses who could help you may never be interviewed.
Officers may not feel the need to dig deeper once they’ve already decided who they believe.
When Everyone Is Told to Believe the Accuser, Who Protects You?
Being accused of a crime — especially something as serious as sexual assault, domestic violence, or abuse — can turn your world upside down. Even before charges are filed, the accusation alone may cause:
- Embarrassment or humiliation
- Loss of trust from family, friends, or coworkers
- Pressure to “explain yourself” before you have a chance to defend yourself
- Fear of arrest, job loss, or public judgment
You deserve a fair investigation, and you deserve someone who will stand up for your rights before assumptions become a criminal charge.
How Segal Law Helps Level the Playing Field
A strong defense is not just about what happened — it’s also about how the investigation was handled. At Segal Law in Hawaii, our job is to:
- Examine how police formed their conclusions and whether they started with assumptions instead of an open mind.
- Investigate witnesses and evidence the police ignored, including people and information that support your side of the story.
- Challenge one-sided or biased interviews that were focused on confirming the accusation instead of finding the truth.
- Protect your right to remain silent and avoid statements that can be taken out of context and used against you.
- Demand that the court rely on real evidence, not assumptions or pressure to believe one side automatically.
When police are trained to start by believing the accuser, your side of the story needs to be protected immediately.
You Don’t Have to Face This Alone
False or exaggerated accusations can happen to anyone. Whether it started with a misunderstanding, a breakup, a family dispute, or a bitter argument, you shouldn’t have to defend yourself against a system that assumes guilt before hearing your side.
If you are being investigated or have been arrested in Hawaii, contact Segal Law as soon as possible. We will listen to you, protect your rights, and make sure the truth has a real chance to be heard.
Call us today at 808-865-2100, email us at info@segallawhawaii.com, or reach us through our confidential contact form here.