Friday, April 22, 2011

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Ernesto Miranda was charged of rape and kidnapping. He was taken into the police station and interrogated without being told that he had a right to get an attorney or a right to remain silent. He was forced to write a confession through pressure and found guilty by state court. An appeal to the Supreme Court in 1966 was approved at a 5 to 4 majority against his conviction, led by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Warren stated that those under interrogation must have these two basic rights given to them.

These regulations and statements by Chief Justice Warren is higher respected in today's society. If any police officer does not say that an offender has the right to remain silent or the right to get an attorney, it is constitutionally illegal. This leads to the fact that some police stations may be questionable of the ways they conduct themselves. Not all statements given to the public by possible convicts should be believed to be the truth. I believe everyone should learn from this case because nobody really knows what goes on inside an interrogation room everywhere and the suspect may be treated to physical if not high degrees of psychological pain.



By completing these two tasks in order for a correct judgement on the suspect's response, many innocent people will not be forced to life in prison. While this system may give those who are guilty a chance to escape their crime, I believe it's more important to value the lives of the innocent first, then deal with those who can be convicted if there is significant evidence.

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