The Strong Defense
You Deserve
What do your Miranda rights protect?
When dealing with the possibility of a police interview or interrogation, it is more important than ever to understand your Miranda rights.
Though you may have heard of them in passing before, do you actually know what they protect?
Protection from interrogations
Miranda Warning discusses how important it is to utilize your Miranda rights. First of all, what do your Miranda rights protect?
Most obviously, they protect your right to remain silent. In police movies and television shows, this is always one of the primary focuses. But what exactly does this mean?
In short, it means that the police cannot force you to talk to them. You may choose to invoke your right to remain silent, and they cannot make you speak. Of course, you have to actually remain silent, because anything you say may still end up used against you in a court of law.
Your right to legal representation
Next, your Miranda rights also protect your right to legal representation. Not many people know how to navigate through a tricky legal situation, and you could likely benefit from having a lawyer present.
Of course, not everyone can afford to hire an attorney, either. This is where your right to legal counsel kicks in. If you cannot afford legal representation on your own, then the government must arrange for an attorney for you.
With an attorney present, you can speak with police with less of a concern that you may say or do something self-incriminating by accident. This may take a lot of the stress out of the situation.