As an American citizen you have inalienable rights that are supposed to be protected by the judicial system; however, sometimes cops fail to protect your rights. When police take away someone’s rights, justice is perverted, and it can impact an entire court case. Therefore, you should know your Miranda rights in case police ever detain you.
Your Miranda Rights
When police detain you for questioning, they must read you your Miranda rights. If police fail to read you your rights, courts will throw out any statement or confession you make during your questioning. Additionally, any evidence the police find due to your unlawful admission will likely be thrown out of the case. It’s important to note that police don’t have to read you your Miranda rights during an arrest, only before they ask questions when detaining you.
Here are your Miranda rights:
1. You have the right to remain silent.
Just because a cop asks you a question, that doesn’t mean you have to answer.
2. You have the right to an attorney.
Police must tell you that you can contact an attorney before they formally question you. If you choose to answer questions without an attorney present, you are technically waving one of your Miranda rights.
3. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.
Every person has the right to an attorney, regardless of their economic status. Therefore, the police must tell you that you can get a court-appointed attorney before they ask you questions. Again, if you choose to answer questions without an attorney, you are waving your Miranda rights.
The Miranda rights are a pivotal part of the justice system. They ensure that a suspect is given fair warning of their legal capabilities before they answer to the law. Therefore, you should never waive your Miranda rights by talking to the police without an attorney present!