Miranda Rights

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Please see response attached, which is also presented below. I also attached the case of Miranda v. Arizona (1966).

Response:

Interesting case! Lets take a closer look through discussion and example.

1. Television depicts several law enforcement programs in which criminals sometimes admit or confess to crimes without being read their rights. Because of this, some cases may be thrown out even though the evidence may point to the accused. Please read Miranda v. Arizona and do some research to see how well it has held up since it was first decided.

I am wondering is you have read the case of Miranda v. Arizona yet. If not, please do that now, as it is an important part of your research. It is attached for convenience. Also see a diagram depiction of the decisions of the case at http://www.landmarkcases.org/miranda/courtsystem.html.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

". . . the prosecution may not use statements, whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from custodial interrogation of the defendant unless it demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the privilege against self-incrimination."
-Chief Justice Earl Warren,
speaking for the majority

Basically, Miranda v. Arizona (1966) has held up fairly well since it was first decided, with a few exceptions. For example, following the Miranda decision, the nation's police departments were required to inform arrested persons of their rights under the ruling, termed a Miranda warning. However, the Miranda decision was widely criticized when it came down, as many felt it was unfair to inform suspected criminals of their rights, as outlined in the decision. Richard M. Nixon and other conservatives denounced Miranda for undermining the efficiency of the police, and argued the ruling would contribute to an increase in crime. Nixon, upon becoming President, promised to appoint judges who would be "strict constructionists" and who would exercise judicial restraint. Many supporters of law enforcement were angered by the decision's negative view of police officers. The federal Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 purported to overrule Miranda for federal criminal cases and restore the "totality of the circumstances" test that had prevailed previous to Miranda. This validity of this provision of the law, which is still codified at 18 U.S. Code 3501, was not ruled on for another 30 years because the Justice Department never attempted to rely on it to support the introduction of a confession into evidence at any criminal trial. Miranda was undermined by several subsequent decisions which seemed to grant several exceptions to the "Miranda warnings", undermining its claim to be a necessary corollary of the Fifth Amendment. ...