Wednesday: Law & Civics
What decision established that suspects must be informed of their rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, before being interrogated by law enforcement?
Hint: This 1966 Supreme Court case ensured that every suspect hears a well-known warning before questioning. 🚔📜
The landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona (1966) established that individuals taken into police custody must be informed of their constitutional rights before being interrogated.
These rights, now commonly known as the Miranda Rights, include the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the warning that anything they say can be used against them in court.
The ruling stemmed from the case of Ernesto Miranda, whose confession was deemed inadmissible because he had not been informed of these protections.
This decision reinforced the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination and the Sixth Amendment's right to legal counsel, shaping law enforcement procedures across the United States.
What about the other answers?
Gideon v. Wainwright: This case established the right to an attorney for defendants who cannot afford one, but it did not require law enforcement to inform suspects of their rights.
Mapp v. Ohio: This case dealt with the exclusionary rule, preventing illegally obtained evidence from being used in court, rather than informing suspects of their rights.