If the police do not read them to a suspect, all it means is that any statements given by the suspect can be dismissed in court.
But shouldn't it be your responsibility to inform yourself of your constitutionally protected 5th amendment rights? If you don't know your rights then you can't defend them, and if you can't defend them then you don't have any left. I don't think that's the cop's job to do that for you.
As a side note, I think it's curious that Ernesto Miranda was still convicted of the original kidnapping and rape charges after the Supreme Court case resulting in the warnings that currently bear his name, as it turned out that the State of Arizona had ample evidence to the crimes he was accused of committing. Following his release from prison, his murderer refused to make a statement to the police after being read his Miranda Rights, and the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Irony?
2007-09-18
06:26:59
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12 answers
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asked by
Anonymous
in
Law & Ethics