When should an investigator cease interrogation and allow counsel when a suspect requests it?

• A. Interrogation may continue for a brief time even after invoking counsel if the officer believes it is productive.
• B. Interrogation must stop after the suspect has spoken with an attorney for 24 hours.
• C. Interrogation continues but investigators must document the pause.
• D. Interrogation must stop immediately when the suspect invokes the right to counsel; questioning may resume only with counsel present or after rights are waived.

Answer: (D)

When a suspect invokes the right to counsel, interrogation must stop immediately. The purpose is to protect the suspect’s right to legal representation and prevent coercion or pressure to continue talking without counsel present. Interrogation may resume only if counsel is present or if the suspect later waives their rights and voluntarily reinitiates questioning. The other ideas—continuing briefly after invocation, a fixed time like 24 hours, or simply pausing and documenting—do not align with this protection, because once the right to counsel is invoked, questioning cannot continue until counsel is present or the rights are waived.