Miranda Rights

Miranda Rights refer to a set of warnings that law enforcement officers in the United States must give to criminal suspects in custody before conducting a custodial interrogation.

These rights were established by the Supreme Court of the United States in the landmark case Miranda v. Arizona in 1966.

The Miranda Rights are as follows:

• • • 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 an attorney.
    • If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.

The purpose of Miranda Rights is to inform suspects of their constitutional rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, which protect against self-incrimination and provide for the right to counsel. By informing suspects of their rights before questioning, law enforcement officers aim to ensure that any statements made by the suspect during the interrogation are admissible in court.

If a suspect is not read their Miranda Rights before a custodial interrogation, any statements made during that interrogation may be excluded as evidence in court. This is known as the “Miranda rule.”