The police must give you so-called Miranda warnings, which consist of you telling you several things: (1) that you have the right to remain silent and that anything you say can be used against you in court; (2) that you have the right to an attorney even if you cannot afford an attorney. The police must “Mirandize” you before they interrogate you, meaning that they must inform of the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.
Oftentimes, if the police fail to give a suspect his or her Miranda warnings, then any subsequent confession cannot be used against the suspect.
- What is an arrest?
- How does the criminal process begin?
- What felonies can lead to the death penalty?
- What are some examples of how states define first degree murder?
- What is a wobbler?
- What are the legal results of a felony conviction?
- What are examples of crimes that constitute felonies?
- Who determines whether conduct constitutes a felony or a misdemeanor?
- What are the basic types of crimes?
- Is a trial judge required to give a definition of beyond a reasonable doubt?
- What exactly does beyond a reasonable doubt mean?
- What classic definition of beyond a reasonable doubt did Chief Justice Shaw provide?
- What distinguishes criminal law from civil law?
- What is a crime?
- Why is legal language sometimes hard to understand?
- If a party loses, what are his or her legal options?
- What are closing arguments
- What are jury instructions?
- What are briefs?
- What are expert witnesses?
