Miranda Rights V. Arizona: Case Analysis

The Miranda v. Arizona case was one of the most important U. S. Supreme Court cases, which ruled that before a police interrogation, a criminal suspect in police custody needs to be informed of their constitutional rights addressed in the 6th amendment: the right to remain silent and 5th amendment, anything the suspect says can and will be used against them in a court of law, the right to an attorney, and if the suspect cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to them. It cannot be denied that there is the importance of Miranda rights and this case that is discussed in the essay.

On March 13, 1963, Ernesto Miranda was arrested under the charges of rape, kidnapping, and robbery. He was brought into the police station in Phoenix, Arizona, where officers placed Miranda in a lineup with 3 other men, but the woman he had kidnapped and assaulted, 18-year-old Lois Ann Jameson, was unable to positively identify him as her attacker. Miranda was then interrogated for two hours. During his interrogation, Miranda had allegedly confessed to committing all crimes against him while being recorded. However, he was not read his rights to remain silent and to have an attorney.

When Miranda’s case was brought to trial, the prosecution’s only evidence was the recorded confession during his interrogation, which was upheld in court. Ernesto Miranda was then found guilty of all the charges and sentenced to 20 – 30 years in prison. After his conviction, Miranda had appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court, and in 1965, the State Supreme Court agreed with the Superior Court’s decision Miranda was found guilty of his crimes. In 1966, the United States Supreme Court overturned Mr. Miranda’s conviction and ordered that the State of Arizona give him a new trial.

Afterwards, Miranda appealed to the US Supreme Court where the case granted him Certiorari, an order where a higher court reviews the decision of a lower court. The case was argued in front of the Supreme Court for three days starting on February 28th and ended on March 2nd of 1966. On June 13th, 1966, the United States Supreme Court decided to reverse the decision made by the State Court. The Supreme Court also ruled that day that a suspects’ rights must be read to them before interrogation. 

To end up, this landmark court case and ruling, now calling a suspects’ rights as the ‘Miranda Rights’, has created a specific procedure for police officers to follow so that when suspects are informed of their rights, they are very much aware of the statements that they say. The ‘Miranda Rights’ has also shown that there will be negative consequences if the police do not tell one their rights.