What are Miranda rights?

Miranda rights are specifically designed to protect individuals who are in custody and being interrogated by law enforcement. These rights are named after the landmark Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona (1966), which established that people must be informed of their rights before being subjected to interrogative questioning following an arrest. The core elements of these rights include the right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel.

When police officers take a person into custody, they are required to communicate these rights to ensure that the suspect understands their legal protections. This is vital in upholding the constitutional safeguards against self-incrimination, as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment. When an individual is not informed of these rights, any statements made during interrogation may be deemed inadmissible in court, thereby emphasizing the importance of ensuring that suspects are aware of their rights under such circumstances.