Will What I Say Be Used Against Me? Understanding Your Rights
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed May 22, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
Anything I tell will it be used against me.
Attorney Answer
Yes — what you told this person can later be used against you if it's relayed to police or introduced in a criminal case.
Statements made to a private acquaintance aren't shielded the way statements made directly to police during a formal interrogation can be. Because that person has no legal duty to keep what you said confidential, they remain free to repeat it to police or testify to it later.
Under Utah Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(A), a statement made by a party and later offered against that same party is excluded from the definition of hearsay — treated instead as an admission by a party-opponent — and is therefore generally admissible regardless of who you originally said it to.
What you can do:
1. Assume anything you've said to this person could be repeated or introduced in a legal proceeding, and avoid discussing case details with anyone besides your attorney going forward.
2. If a specific statement has already been made, tell your attorney the full context immediately so they can assess how it might be used.
3. Ask your attorney whether the circumstances of the statement open up any defenses or limits on its use.
4. Consult a local criminal defense attorney, since general guidance can only go so far without knowing the subject matter actually discussed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can something said to a friend be used against a person in a criminal case?
Generally, yes; statements to private individuals are not protected the way statements to police during formal interrogation can be, and they can later be repeated or testified to.
Is confiding in a friend the same as attorney-client privilege?
No, generally only communications with a licensed attorney acting in that role are protected by privilege; conversations with friends or acquaintances are not.
What should someone do if they already shared information that could hurt their case?
Generally, telling your attorney the full context immediately allows them to assess how the statement might be used and whether any defenses apply.
