What Are Miranda Rights?

Full Video Transcript

Everyone has heard the famous line: “You have the right to remain silent.” Why do police say this during an arrest? Miranda rights are constitutional rights given to all criminal suspects. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that before police interrogate a suspect they must read them their Miranda rights. When police do this, it’s called the Miranda warning. Miranda rights include the right to remain silent, the knowledge that anything you say to police can be used against you, and the right to a lawyer. Police do not have to provide a Miranda warning unless they are doing a “custodial interrogation.” If police are not going to arrest you or bring you in for questioning, they do not need to give you a Miranda warning. You must actively assert your Miranda rights. Police will assume you’ve waived your rights if you start talking. If you are suspected of committing a crime, talk to a criminal defense lawyer before you talk to the police.