ORLANDO, Fla. – We’ve all heard it on TV crime shows: “You have the right to remain silent.” But have you ever stopped and wondered where that phrase came from and why law enforcement is required to tell you that when being questioned to a crime?
It all goes back to a 1966 U.S. Supreme Court case called Miranda v. Arizona.
Ernesto Miranda was arrested in Phoenix and confessed to a crime during questioning. The problem? He didn’t know he had the right to remain silent or to have an attorney present.
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The court ruled in Miranda’s favor and from that point on law enforcement officers across the country were required to clearly explain a person’s rights before questioning them about a crime.
That’s why they’re called “Miranda rights.”
In plain English, those rights are about making sure you know you don’t have to answer questions that could get you in trouble and that you can have a lawyer by your side.
So, the next time you hear those words on TV, or even in real life, you’ll know it’s more than just a script. It’s a safeguard put in place to protect fairness and justice in the system.
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