While most people have a passing familiarity with their Miranda rights, very few actually know what these rights provide.
Fewer people also know the importance of relying on these rights where possible due to common misconceptions.
What do Miranda rights protect?
Miranda Warning discusses a person’s Miranda rights in detail. First: what are these rights? They cover a person’s right to remain silent, as well as their right to an attorney.
In short, it protects a person’s ability to stay quiet to avoid self-incrimination. This means the police cannot force a person to speak in an interview against their will. Likewise, if a person cannot afford an attorney under normal circumstances, they can be provided one through the state by relying on their Miranda rights.
Should you use them?
Unfortunately, a common misconception exists that paints people who invoke their Miranda rights as guilty parties solely. However, a big part of Miranda rights and their existence is meant to support people who are innocent of any crime they face accusations of.
Thus, it is best for everyone facing the possibility of an interrogation to invoke their Miranda rights when they get the warning read to them. It is important to make it very verbally clear to police when Miranda rights are being invoked.
It is also important to remain silent after invoking the Miranda rights due to the fact that anything said after this point can still be used in court.
Thus, Miranda rights offer valuable protection to everyone whether they are innocent or guilty, and can be a very useful tool.