Life is not like television and neither is the law. After thousands of episodes of Law and Order, NYPD Blue and CSI, many people think they know the law surrounding Miranda Rights but if you are counting on your interaction with police officers to mirror what you see on prime time television, you may be setting yourself up for an unhappy ending to your story.
Although a law enforcement officer can actually read your Miranda rights to you, more often than not, that is not the case. Your rights are often printed on paperwork that you will be asked to sign. Sometimes, this paperwork only includes a statement of your rights. Other times, this paperwork may include a variety of other statements and your Miranda rights warning may be embedded within a longer and more complex document.
You always have the right to contact an attorney before you agree to sign anything and you always have the right to remain silent until you speak to your attorney.
At Agricola Law, we know your rights and we fight to protect them.