When facing the possibility of a police interrogation or interview, it is important to know your rights. This will keep you protected from the possibility of self-incriminating.
This is where your Miranda rights come in handy. But what exactly are they?
What rights get protection?
According to Miranda Warning, your Miranda rights protect important rights when in police custody. These rights protect you from self-incriminating by providing you with the tools you need to avoid unfair police interrogation.
First and most famous: your right to remain silent. This means that you do not have to engage in talks with the police if you do not want to. Next: your right to legal representation. This means that you must have a legal representative if you ask for one, even if you cannot afford a personal attorney. If you cannot, the state must provide one.
The importance of avoiding self-incrimination
Why is it important to avoid self-incrimination? In essence, this can happen to anyone, including people who are totally innocent of the crimes they stand accused of. However, because people get nervous in front of police and do not know how to navigate the conversation, they may slip up and say or do things that make authorities suspicious.
Police sometimes try to coerce a person into engaging in an interrogation when they do not want to by saying that only guilty people invoke their Miranda rights. However, that is far from the truth.
If you want to protect yourself from accidental self-incrimination, consider invoking your Miranda rights.
