  Criminal Defense Warning   Worse still is the very real
likelihood that your statements will not even be remembered
accurately.  If you explain what happened to family or friends,
with only one exception those people can be summonsed to court
and forced to repeat your statements at your trial. The only
exception is your spouse -- and even your spouse may be
summonsed and forced to take the witness stand against you
unless your spouse testifies in open court that he or she does
not wish to testify. Your spouse may have to get a lawyer to
assert the decision not to testify. And, unfair as it may seem,
even if your spouse wants to remain silent there are situations
where your spouse cannot refuse to testify. If the judge tells
your spouse to testify, and he or she refuses to do so, your
spouse can be sent to jail until he or she agrees to follow the
judge's order.  In some situations, a police officer may tell
you that if you cooperate without contacting a lawyer, things
will go easier for you. Perhaps the off