• What Are Your Miranda Rights?

    As a criminal lawyer near Annapolis will explain, Miranda rights must be read to any criminal suspect in custody. If a police officer fails to advise you of your rights when you are arrested or placed in custody, your criminal lawyer may be able to have the case against you completely dismissed.

    Miranda rights include the right to remain silent and to know that anything you say can and will be held against you in court. A police officer must also advise a criminal suspect of his right to speak to a criminal defense attorney. Finally, a police officer must inform a suspect that if he cannot afford a criminal attorney, one will be provided to him at no cost. The Miranda rights, named after the 1964 Supreme Court case that gave rise to them, are required because they provide vital information to suspects about their constitutional rights, so that they can make an informed decision about what to do when they are arrested. Courts take the rights very seriously and if you are arrested or placed in custody you must be made aware of these rights, or the State risks not being able to use evidence that they have collected against you, including your own statements.