In speaking with criminal clients, I am always surprised to learn how many misconceptions exist regarding criminal law. One significant area of misconception involves the issue of offering unfavorable statements against yourself to police. People often have wrong ideas about what their Miranda rights entail, about what “Pleading the Fifth” entails, and about what needs to be said or done during a confrontation with a police officer.
This three-part blog series, which will be published over the next couple weeks, will explore these issues. The first blog post will detail your Miranda rights. It will discuss when your Miranda rights apply and when they may have been violated. The second blog post will discuss your right to “Plead the Fifth” in situations where you are forced to offer incriminating testimony against yourself. The final blog post will provide tips for speaking with a police officer during the course of an investigation. People often think they have to speak with an officer, but this is simply not the case.
When reading these blog posts, please keep in mind that they discuss the law as it is applied in Minnesota. The law may be different in other states. It is also important to remember that these blog posts only give basic information about the Fifth Amendment. There are many nuances that can only be assessed by a trained legal professional. If you have been confronted by a police officer, placed under arrest, placed in a position where you have to offer incriminating testimony against yourself, or charged with a crime, it is important to contact an attorney right away. Grant Borgen of Bird, Stevens & Borgen, P.C. handles criminal cases and is always available for a free consultation.
You can read the entire series by clicking on the links below:
Part 1: Understanding Your Miranda Rights