Question
3. Police officers picked up Jared on suspicion of shooting a local taxicab driver in the head and then burying the body nearby. On the way to the station to question him the police talking to each other about the murder, while Jared listened in the back seat. Then, without warning, Jared admitted to the murder At his trial, Jared argued that the police had coerced him into admitting to murder, and that his Fifth Amendment rights had been violated. Explain your answers: Evidence Admissible? __ Miranda Rights needed? Yes No Yes No
Answer
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Ira
Professional · Tutor for 6 years
Answer
Miranda Rights needed?YesEvidence Admissible?Yes
Explanation
The issue here revolves around the criminal legal principles particularly the Fifth Amendment rights and Miranda Rights. According to the excerpt of this question, Jared was picked by the police on suspicion, was able to overhear some discussions of the officers about the murder incident without actually being formally interrogated, and then made an admission to the murder. Under the Fifth Amendments, the involuntary admissions or confessions cannot be used against the defendants and must be excluded from the evidences even if they are relevant on the case. For the confessions or admissions to voluntary, it must be made pursuant to the Miranda Warnings (Miranda v. Arizona 384 US 436, 444 (1966)). Here , it appears that there's no evidence that the admission of Jared was voluntarily made since no mention that his Miranda Rights were ever read to him. Despite that, relevant in American law is the principle - "Any statements that a defendant in custody makes to law enforcement are admissible, provided they are made voluntarily: i.e., they will be deemed voluntary unless they were the product of official, coercive conduct". In this case, although the Miranda Rights were not read, the police officers were merely having a conversation where Jared, by himself, gave out an unforced confession implying that the confession was voluntarily made. Therefore, it can be arguable that the admission can still arguably be admitted as an evidence. However, this also depends hugely on the assessment of court on whether if such discussion can be considered as a form of psychological coercion. There is indeed a split in answers among judges for such cases. Overall, yes, from the information given, it can be debated that Miranda Rights are needed based on the fact Jared was in custody. The admissibility of the evidence also heavily depend on the judgement made by the court on voluntarily of the confession under particular circumstances.