Tuesday 2 September 2008

The Miranda Warning

Ever since the landmark Supreme Court ruling in MIranda v. Arizona in 1966, it has become the practice of police investigators to read suspects their rights -- of give them the Miranda warning -- before questioning them while in custody.

Many times, police give the Miranda warning -- warning suspects they have the right to remain silent -- as soon as they are placed under arrest, to make sure the warning is not overlooked later by detectives or investigators.

The following is the standard Miranda warning:

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to be speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense."

Sometimes suspects are given a more detailed Miranda warning, designed to cover all contingencies that a suspect might encounter while in police custody.

See http://crime.about.com/od/police/a/miranda_warning.htm

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