Trial Options and the Defendant's Rights

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The Miranda warnings stem from a United States Court’s decision in the case, Miranda v. Arizona. There are two basic conditions that must be met for Miranda warnings to be required: the suspect must be in official police custody and the suspect must be under interrogation. The suspect goes through a booking process after an arrest. The suspect will have a bond hearing shortly after the completion of the booking process or after arraignment. The arraignment is the suspect’s first court appearance to officially hear the charges filed against him or her and to enter a plea. The preliminary hearing or grand jury proceeding determines if there is substantial evidence for the suspect to be tried for the crime charged. In this essay, I will identify and describe at least four rights afforded criminal defendants at the arrest stage and during pretrial. I will analyze the facts presented and other relevant factors in the scenario provided. I will cite legal authority to support my conclusions. In the scenario presented, John Doe is an individual that left his country in an effort to make a better life. However, he does not have legal status in America and was recently arrested for shoplifting merchandise, which was valued over $1,000. At the time of his arrest, John voluntarily began to make incriminating statements to the arresting officers. John voluntarily made incriminating statements, without the arresting officers deliberately trying to elicit or coerce those statements. The arresting officers do not have to warn John not to make indirect statements. When a suspect is arrested and not read Miranda rights, indirect statements may be used as evidence in court, however, the prosecutor must demonstrate that the statements... ... middle of paper ... ...2013, from http://www.mirandarights.org/custodialinterrogation.html Miranda rights. (2009). Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http:www.mirandarights.org National Paralegal College. (2007). The exclusionary rule. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://nationalparalegal.edu/conlawcrimproc_public/ProtectionFromSearches&Seizures/ExclusionaryRule.asp Nolo. (2013). Arraignment. Retrieved December1, 2013, from http://www.nolo.com/dictionary/arraignment-term.html Roberson, C., Wallace, H., & Stuckey, G. B. (2013). Procedures in the justice system (1st ed.). [Vitalsource or Kaplan University]. Retrieved from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781269223119/pages/76743177 Thomson Reuters. (2013). The Fourth Amendment and the “Exclusionary Rule”. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-rights/the-fourth-amendment-and-the-exclusionary-rule.html

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