rather it means you haven't stated either way if you will be exercising your Miranda rights. Hence, they can continue questioning. Until such time as you do definitively exercise said rights.
The implication of silence is now a waiver for the right to remain silent. Before they could not continue questioning you for hours if you remained silent because the constructive implication is you were electing to use your right to remain silent. Now, that legal construction is gone and the cops WILL abuse it. In addition, if you do not know the amount of pressure that can be brought to bear on an innocent person during an interrogation I suggest you do a quick Google search on the innocence project and false confessions.
Hours? Really? What exactly does that mean? Could they question you for two hours, but not three? One but not two? Four but not five? Where was the cut-off, at 31 minutes past the hour? Did it differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction or was there a federally mandated standard? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? If anything this is an improvement from the vague and ambiguous "hours" to a definitive stopping point.
And please don't preach to me about police tactics. I grew up in an era when police could search you because you had long hair and were wearing bell-bottoms, and when many such persons "fell down the stairs" when brought to the police station. So thanks but I don't need the education.
Mook
*MySmiley*
"Bustin' makes me feel good!"
Ghostbusters, by Ray Parker Jr.
*MySmiley*
"Bustin' makes me feel good!"
Ghostbusters, by Ray Parker Jr.
SCOTUS Update: Right to remain silent? Suspect better speak up -
- 01/06/2010 07:53:14 PM
1268 Views
What I don't like about this decision...
- 01/06/2010 08:21:02 PM
836 Views
I think the only potential issue is if the person didn't understand the Miranda warning.
- 01/06/2010 10:37:42 PM
769 Views
that is an odd way of looking at it
- 01/06/2010 11:58:12 PM
792 Views
I'm more referring to the almost "magic words" that Kennedy introduces here.
- 02/06/2010 12:18:07 AM
800 Views
So we should not allow police to question people at all?
- 02/06/2010 12:31:27 AM
726 Views
You won't hear me complain if the Miranda rights are scaled back a bit.
- 02/06/2010 12:40:23 AM
710 Views
Forgot to mention - the 5-4 decision was split between cons and libs, but.....
- 01/06/2010 08:36:41 PM
737 Views
This seems reasonable to me.
- 01/06/2010 09:47:34 PM
814 Views
I'm stunned. Your response was reasoned, logical and concise. What have you done with Joel?
- 01/06/2010 10:43:22 PM
771 Views
Joel is going to be so pissed when he finds out that you logged onto his account.....
- 02/06/2010 01:42:50 AM
783 Views
Hey deaf people who can't speak... pound sand.
- 01/06/2010 09:55:41 PM
868 Views
well the deaf can simply close their eyes and end the interview
- 02/06/2010 12:26:31 AM
750 Views
Re: well the deaf can simply close their eyes and end the interview
- 02/06/2010 03:57:35 AM
767 Views
you are often questioned by the police? What are you doing to make that happen?
- 02/06/2010 03:35:47 PM
803 Views
This decision is a setback for us all.
- 01/06/2010 10:10:51 PM
885 Views
No it isn't.
- 01/06/2010 10:42:06 PM
794 Views
Re: No it isn't.
- 01/06/2010 11:26:07 PM
808 Views
Teach people to say "I'm not saying anything until my lawyer gets here." Period. *NM*
- 02/06/2010 12:38:24 AM
321 Views
Close, but not cigar.
- 02/06/2010 01:30:19 AM
811 Views
if they catch more bad guys is that a bad thing? *NM*
- 02/06/2010 01:50:12 AM
332 Views
Would you be okay with the prohibition of firearms if it lowered the crime rate?
- 02/06/2010 02:18:26 AM
773 Views
You are at the intersection of bull and shit.
- 02/06/2010 04:00:32 PM
791 Views
I am confused
- 01/06/2010 11:09:14 PM
782 Views
Re: I am confused
- 01/06/2010 11:15:07 PM
718 Views
ummm, no...
- 02/06/2010 12:13:59 AM
805 Views
Re: ummm, no...
- 02/06/2010 01:38:54 AM
754 Views
spare me the pontificating
- 02/06/2010 01:50:27 AM
849 Views
Nothing has changed
- 02/06/2010 01:56:08 AM
753 Views
Except you risk waiving them unless you specifically say you want to use them.
- 02/06/2010 04:07:51 AM
783 Views
not surprising that people who use phrases like "Police State of America" believe that
- 02/06/2010 03:24:25 PM
773 Views
As far as I can tell, this changes nothing and simply maintains the status quo.
- 01/06/2010 11:27:36 PM
770 Views
For those who don't understand the techniques of police interrogation let me make this clear.
- 02/06/2010 01:57:51 AM
843 Views
Good advice
- 02/06/2010 04:00:45 AM
704 Views

*NM*
