NCJ Number
97554
Date Published
1983
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This police training video cassette, accompanied by an audio cassette, reenacts the incident that led to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York vs. Quarles and highlights the principles of that decision.
Abstract
The decision specifies the 'public safety' exception to the requirement that Miranda warnings be given before a suspect's answers may be admitted into evidence and indicates that the availability of that exception does not depend upon the motivation of the officers involved. Following a woman's complaint she had been raped, a patrol officer pursued the suspect, Benjamin Quarles. Upon frisking Quarles and finding an empty shoulder holster, the officer asked where the gun was. Quarles nodded toward some empty cartons and replied that 'the gun is over there.' The officer retrieved the gun, formally arrested Quarles, and gave him his Miranda warnings. The trial court excluded Quarles' initial statement and the gun, because Quarles had not yet been given the Miranda warnings. Both the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court and the New York Court of Appeals affirmed. On appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the need for answers to questions in situations posing threats to public safety outweighs the need for the prophylactic rule protecting the fifth amendment's privilege against self-incrimination. A booklet which accompanies the cassette highlights the facts in the case, summarizes the incident prompting the appeal, and discusses the Supreme Court's decision.