The History of the Miranda Rights

In 1963, Ernesto Miranda was a suspect in a crime being investigated. He was made to feel he could not leave the presence of the police by being put in a room and very aggressively interrogated. Not knowing he could stay silent and get an attorney appointed to him, he confessed to the crime he was accused of.

Ernesto Miranda's case caused the Supreme Court to address police interrogation procedures. The court's decision established that anyone suspected of a crime be informed of their rights before questioning, specifically the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. If a person is handcuffed or put in an interrogation room or both, the officer failing to tell the person these warnings can be the reason any confession is stopped from entering the court during

a trial.

Miranda Rights, often called Miranda Warning or Miranda Rule, comes from the U.S. Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona (1966). This ruling established protections for people in police custody, making sure their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

Miranda Rights have since become a very important part of the U.S. criminal justice system, helping people be aware of their rights during police interactions.