It can be frustrating when the police withhold details about a crime, especially one that has remained unsolved for a significant length of time.
We are curious creatures. We want to know who did it, why they did it, and how it all unfolded.
Unfortunately, there are several reasons why releasing too much information to the public can damage an ongoing investigation.
“Holdback evidence” protects the investigation against false confessions
Holdback evidence, also known as “holdback information,” protects the investigation against false confessions.
In the past, people have confessed to crimes that they didn’t commit. Some were mentally ill, while others simply “snapped” due to the pressure of being interrogated. There have also been examples of people incriminating themselves to protect loved ones.
According to the National Registry of Exonerations, 485 of 3,727 (13%) exonerations between 1989 and 2024 were due to false confessions.
By holding back key details, the police can figure out whether someone is being honest or not. If the evidence contradicts the suspect’s story, investigators will know that they are being dishonest.
Fake witnesses exist
There are a small minority of people who like to insert themselves into high-profile cases.
These people may claim that they witnessed something that never happened.
For example, they might say that they encountered the victim or the suspect in the case.
Over the years, some individuals have claimed that they narrowly survived serial killer Ted Bundy. However, many of these stories didn’t emerge until after the media published details about his crimes.
Some people will lie to feel important or involved, regardless of what damage their dishonesty might cause. Others can be suffering from delusions.
When these “witnesses” come forward, investigators can often weed them out by comparing their claims against the withheld evidence.
Witnesses are unreliable, regardless of their honesty
Honest witnesses can also be unreliable.
Simply put, science has proven that our memories aren’t as accurate as we think.
Witnesses will often recall conflicting details about the same event, even if it happened very recently.
Furthermore, certain people have such an unshakeable confidence in their memory that they will become defensive if you even mention the possibility that they might be wrong.
While you or I might say, “I think I saw Joe Bloggs’ car,” they will confidently state, “I definitely saw Joe Bloggs’ car.”
Again, withheld evidence can be a powerful tool to handle these kinds of witnesses.
If they are “certain” that they saw the victim somewhere, but phone records and surveillance footage contradict their sighting, then the police will likely realize that they are dealing with an unreliable witness.
Of course, these are the same people who often appear in the media at a later date, claiming that the police gave them the cold shoulder.
Releasing evidence can influence the offender’s behavior
Releasing too much evidence can influence the offender’s behavior and jeopardize the case.
If the offender learns that investigators are focusing on a specific area or aspect of their crime, then they might destroy crucial evidence they were previously unconcerned about.
A way in which an offender operates can provide vital clues about their identity. If investigators were to publicly highlight certain details, then the offender might purposely modify their behavior to mislead the police.
People often forget that many offenders will pay close attention to media coverage of their crimes. When the authorities release a piece of evidence to the public, they are also, by extension, releasing it to the perpetrator.
Other reasons
There are also other reasons that you might not have thought about. For example, releasing too much evidence could taint the jury pool and damage the offender’s right to a fair trial. Certain details may also be withheld to protect the identities of witnesses.
The police do not “keep secrets” for the sake of it. There are several legal and investigative reasons why “holdback evidence” is crucial.