When you’re arrested, the first thing you hear should be an officer reading your Miranda Rights. While this is a reminder that you don’t have to say anything to law enforcement, some people will still say too much.
What Makes Miranda Rights so Valuable to the Accused?
The Miranda warning is a fundamental rule that can prevent the accused from incriminating themselves during an arrest. In the heat of the moment, people can be irrational. They will do and say things that are not normally part of their character. By understanding and following the right to remain silent, those who are facing criminal charges can prevent making a bad situation worse.
Emotional Distress Affects Decisions
It’s well documented that the state of a person’s mind directly affects decisions and the capacity for rational thought. When arrested, the average person undergoes a great deal of emotional distress and can feel everything from intense fear to overwhelming anger. It is during these periods of time when the right to remain silent is the most important to remember.
Many people will do and say things out of anger and frustration that could be construed as guilt. Although it may be difficult to keep your peace while being arrested, Miranda rights are there to help prevent you from implicating yourself even if you did nothing wrong. The things you do and say from the moment the officer reads these rights to you can greatly impact the events that follow.
Saying too Much Can Be Detrimental to Your Case
When someone is feeling anxious during an arrest, he or she could begin to ramble trying to talk his or her way out of the situation. In this frantic state of explanation, information could become hard to understand. Facts could become confused, making it more difficult for law enforcement to ascertain the truth. By keeping quiet until your able to speak calmly to a Las Vegas lawyer, you can avoid confusing the facts and making matters worse for yourself.
Silence May Be Your Salvation
Until you’re able to speak with a criminal lawyer in Las Vegas, your Miranda rights can shield you from saying the wrong thing or divulging too much information. Even the innocent can be made to look guilty if the wrong thing is said during an arrest.