Berkemer v. McCarty

Because of Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the police must inform people they plan to arrest of their rights, including their right to remain silent because anything they say could be used as evidence against them, their right to have an attorney present, and their right to have a state-appointed attorney, if they cannot afford one. The U.S. Supreme Court imposed this measure to protect people from giving self-incriminating statements while in the often intimidating atmosphere and environment of police interrogations. This decision carefully outlined how police must implement this safeguard when questioning suspects in order to avoid forced or otherwise improperly obtained testimonies and confessions.