NCJ Number
182249
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 69 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2000 Pages: 27-32
Editor(s)
John E. Ott
Date Published
2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The role of Miranda warnings in the criminal justice system will be put to the test when the U.S. Supreme Court reviews a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Court ruling in United States v. Dickerson in which the Fourth Circuit overturned a lower court decision to suppress a confession obtained in violation of Miranda.
Abstract
The Fourth Circuit held that the admissibility of the confession should be assessed in light of a Federal statute, Title 18, that directs Federal courts to apply a voluntariness standard to confessions in lieu of Miranda requirements. When the U.S. Supreme Court hears the case, the reality is that because any alternative to Miranda must satisfy strict principles of voluntariness, exchanges between law enforcement and arrested subjects will likely be the same as what has existed for the past three decades. Details of the case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court are provided. The impact of possible changes in the legal landscape with respect to Miranda on police practices is discussed. 30 endnotes and 1 photograph