Miranda
Warnings and the Bill of Rights
You
may be familiar with the "Miranda Warnings"
from television and the movies. But what do they really mean?
What rights from the Bill of Rights are they designed to protect?
For
this activity, you will work in small groups. Each group
will need a copy of the Miranda Warnings (see below)
and a copy of the Bill of Rights. Your group should be prepared
to share what you do with the rest of the class, either
on poster paper, an overhead projector, or the board.
First,
within your group, take each sentence of the Miranda
Warnings and translate them into language that makes sense
to you. You might reword "You have the right to remain
silent" as "You do not have to speak if you don't
want to."
Next,
match each phrase of your reworded Miranda Warnings
with the right in the Bill of Rights that it is designed
to protect. Discuss the following questions within your
group:
- Why
is this right so important that the Supreme Court of the
United States decided people accused of crimes must be
informed of it?
- Does
informing a person of the right provide absolute protection
against a violation of that right?
- How
can police be certain that an accused person understands
the meaning of the Miranda Warnings?
Make
a chart like the one shown below to help you organize your
thoughts. Your teacher will lead a class activity during
which you will share what you discussed in your group.
Miranda
Warnings
- You
have the right to remain silent.
- Anything
you say can and will be used against you in a court of
law.
- You
have the right to have an attorney present before any
questioning.
- If
you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to
represent you before any questioning.
Do you understand these rights?
| Sentence
from Miranda |
Put
in your own words |
Bill
of Rights |
| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
|
