MIRANDA VERSUS THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
The Miranda Case:
Early in 1963, an 18- year old woman was kidnapped and raped in Phoenix, Arizona. The police investigated the case, and soon found and arrested a poor, and mentally disturbed man. The name of this man was Ernesto Miranda, a name that would become well known in American constitutional studies. Miranda was 23 years old when he was arrested. He confessed that he had kidnapped and raped the young woman after only two (2) hours of questioning.1 By confessing to the crime, Miranda was convicted for kidnapping and rape.
However, when Miranda was arrested he was not told his rights that are stated in amendment number five (5). On appeal, Miranda’s lawyers pointed out that the police had never told him that he had the right to be represented by a lawyer, and that he could remain silent if he wished to do so. In addition, he was not told that everything that he said could be used against him. In the end of 1966, the United State’s Supreme Court gave support to the defendant side by only a 5-4 majority.2 The Supreme Court decision detailed the principles governing police interrogation. In addition, they decided that the police have to make certain points clear for the accused before questioning and suspect.
The Miranda case solely dealt with the first ten Amendments, or the so called "bill of rights" amendments. According to Amendment number five (5) anyone including foreigners arrested in the United States has certain rights and privileges that should be spelled out for them at the time of the arrest. These rights are designed to ensure that everyone has the right to due process of the law, that states that a person's rights, liberty, and property cannot be violated without a proper trial. Please refer to table #1 for the list of rights that an accused person has the right to do. Note that if any of the five points listed in amendment number five are violated, the accused cannot be sentenced. These rights have to be described for the accused person in time of arrest.
Table #1 The rights and the privileges of an accused person:
1. The accused is free to remain silent.br>
2. The accused has to be warned that anything he/she says can be used against the accused.
3. The accused has the right to have an attorney present during any questioning.
4. The accused does not have to answer any questions if you do not want to. The accused can terminate questioning whenever he/she wants to.
5. If the accused cannot afford an attorney, he or she will be provided with one.
"I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that my answer may tend to incriminate me."3 This is hardly a glorious reply- but an essential protection of civil liberties, nonetheless. It is also written in the Constitution that: "No person... shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself."4 This part of the fifth amendment, along with due process, protects all citizens and non citizens of the United States from the torturer's rack. By stating the rights and the privileges of the individual who is arrested, the individual will know his or her rights, privileges, and obligations. "Prior to questioning, the person must be warned that he has a right to remain silent, that any statement he does make may be used as evidence against him, and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed...... If he indicates in any manner and at any stage of the process that he wishes to consult with an attorney before speaking, there can be no questioning."5 There cannot be federal or state convictions if defendants are denied the due process of law from the moment they are taken into custody or otherwise deprived of their freedom. These have come to be known as the "Miranda Rights".
I find it very difficult to believe that a person who confesses a crime can get away without any punishment for committing a serious crime because of a simple technicality error during the time of arrest. I would like to refer to the Miranda versus Arizona case, where Miranda actually confessed to have raped and kidnapped an 18- year old woman, and did not get any punishment for doing so. It is certainly not fare for the victim of such a serious crime, to know that the person who once caused harm and pain, has to be released because of technical aspects. I understand that it would be very difficult for such a victim to believe in the American constitution, and it's main purpose to preserve the rights and the liberties of the people of the United States. Subsequent appointments of several new members in recent years, has produced a Supreme Court decidedly more cautious in protecting the rights of accused persons. A good solution to the problem concerning technicality errors during the time of arrest, would be to have the rights recorded on a tape, and play it for the suspected person. I tried my best to research the rights and the privileges of a death person, but failed to find any particular information concerning this matter. Such a person will not be able to hear his or here's rights that are to be read out in the time of arrest. Will this person be able to read his or her rights and privileges ?
In conclusion, the Miranda versus Arizona case made a significant difference in the police and court system in the United States. According to the commission on Civil Rights in 1961, "Some policeman still resort to physical force to obtain confessions."6 The Miranda versus the state of Arizona would detail the principles governing police interrogation, and protect the rights and the privileges of the people in the United States of America. The question that I believe that has to be asked is if accused and arrested people in the United States of America are enjoying too many rights and privileges. As shown in the Miranda case, a person may get away with no punishment, even if the accused confesses to the crime, if the police do not read that person his five rights and privileges that are supposed to ensure the due process of the law stated in Amendment number five in the American constitution. The practicality of this amendment will be a lively discussed issue in future Supreme Court cases, and the Miranda case decision will continue to be questioned.
2. Harris, Fred R. Readings on the Body Politic.
Scott, Foreman and Company. Glenview, Illinois, 1987
3. Burnham, Walter Dean. Democracy In the Making.
Prentice- Hall Inc. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1983
4. Pynn, Ronald, E. American Politics. Changing Expectations.
Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, Montery California, 1981
1Harris, Fred R. Readings on the Body Politic.
Scott, Foreman and Company. Glenview, Illinois, 1987 (94)
2Alphedus, Thomas Mason. American Constitutional Law.
Prentice- Hall Inc. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1983 (457)
3Harris, Fred R. Readings on the Body Politic.
Scott, Foreman and Company. Glenview, Illinois, 1987 (95)
4Harris, Fred R. Readings on the Body Politic.
Scott, Foreman and Company. Glenview, Illinois, 1987 (95)
5Burnham, Walter Dean. Democracy In the Making.
Prentice- Hall Inc. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1983 (206)
6Pynn, Ronald, E. American Politics. Changing Expectations.
Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, Montery California, 1981 (117)