2a.+Miranda+Law

=Miranda Law= In 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the historic case of Miranda v. Arizona, which states that if and when a person is taken into custody, he or she must be told of the [|Fifth Amendment] right before being questioned, not to make any self-incriminating statements. As a result of Miranda, a person must be told four things before being questioned:
 * What are the "Miranda" Rights?**
 * 1) You have the right to remain silent.
 * 2) Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
 * 3) You have the right to an attorney.
 * 4) If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.

The Miranda warnings do not allow a criminal to get away with the crime. They allow the person accused to be given a fair chance to not incriminate him/herself while they are being interrogated for a crime. If several people see the crime happen and there are witnesses and evidence, then the person will probably be convicted anyway, but the warnings only protect the person from an unnecessary confession due to stress. **The Miranda warnings are only protecting a person from being convicted of a crime by a confession.** If a person confesses to a crime because he/she is stressed by an interrogation and is not read these rights, then the confession cannot be used in court as a reason to convict the person.
 * FAQ**
 * Do these rights allow you to get away with crime? **

** When do my Miranda rights take effect? **Your Miranda rights take effect the minute that you are considered in custody. When the police arrest you they should read you your Miranda rights.

** If I am arrested, and the police don't read me my rights, do they have to let me go? **No, however, if you say anything they will not be able to use it in court. Even if you confess, it will be deemed inadmissible.

** Can the police question me without reading me my Miranda rights? **Yes, they can question you but you are under no legal obligation to answer them unless you are under arrest. The police question people at crime scenes without reading them their rights. Miranda rights only apply once someone is in custody.

U.S. Supreme Court decision: //Miranda v. Arizona//.