Yannetti | Criminal Defense Law Firm | Boston, Salem & Dedham Massachusetts
Call For A Free Phone Consultation
617-297-9213
Photo of the legal professionals at The Yannetti Criminal Defense Law Firm

Former Prosecutors, Aggressively Fighting For You

Photo of the legal professionals at The Yannetti Criminal Defense Law Firm

What are my options if police do not read me my Miranda Rights?

The legal term “Miranda Rights” is one that almost everyone in the country is familiar with. These rights are so well known that even cop dramas and sitcoms that use enforcement officers will often make sure the characters playing enforcement officers read the suspect his or her Miranda Rights during an arrest. Legally, as long as an officer gives these rights prior to interrogation the officer has generally met his or her duty.

What exactly are my Miranda Rights?

In general, Miranda Rights give the individual facing criminal charges the right to remain silent, a heads up that the officer can use anything said against us in court, a reminder that we can call an attorney at any time and will also let us know that the state will provide legal counsel if we cannot afford it.

What happens if police ask questions before giving me my Miranda Rights?

Once in custody, police must give the Miranda Rights before they can move forward with questioning. A failure to do so generally means the court will not allow any information gathered from those questions into court.

What are my legal remedies in this type of situation?

There are two general remedies. First, as noted above, the court will not consider any evidence gathered from information gained without reading Miranda Rights. This can mean the state will drop the charges. A common example involves the police arresting an individual and asking if he committed a robbery. He admits and tells them where to find the money. Based on this information, the police go to the location he provided and find the money.

However, if the police did not give the man in this example his Miranda Rights, they cannot use the admission or the evidence of the money. This is because they found the money as a direct result of the unlawful admission.

The second potential remedy involves compensation for these allegations. The law provides for the ability of a victim to get monetary compensation from law enforcement if officers fail to provide Miranda Rights. In the example above, the man could try to get compensation for any missed work, the cost of defending his case and any other bills that result from the charges.

A current case is questioning the breadth of this law. It involves a man who was accused of sexual assault. Police approached the man at a hospital where he worked and asked about allegations of sexual assault. The man confessed and police admitted this confession as evidence in trial. He was acquitted because the police never provided his Miranda Rights.

The man is now holding the police officers civilly liable for the financial impact of the case. Thus far, the courts have agreed with him. The law enforcement officers involved have requested intervention by the Supreme Court, arguing that the law does not allow for holding individual officers liable. The Supreme Court has not yet stated whether it will review the case or allow it to stand.

Either way, the main take away for those facing allegations of sexual assault or other criminal activity is the importance of proper police procedure during the investigation. A failure to follow the expected protocol can result not only in a reduction or dismissal of charges but also financial compensation for the strain caused by the allegations.

Quotes

Client Testimonials

5 Star

In the most painful times in our lives–David, Greg and Lisa showed us their professional best–dignified, warm, gracious. David and his team will not let you down, you will be taken well care of and most importantly superbly and justly represented…
Barbara Lynch

Oh my goodness David is a miracle worker! Unbelievable results! David is so highly respected by attorneys and judges and prosecutors that he really makes an impact in court and presented our friend in the best possible light…

Jude Dasilva

Greg Johnson and David Yannetti are simply the best. After having two other attorneys on a case, I hired them and got results where others failed. They work hard for you and I highly recommend them!…

Vivian Trinh

If it was not for Mr. Yannetti I could have lost my career and opportunity to come back to USA again given that I am not a US citizen. Thank you Mr. Yannetti for all you did for me and my family. You and your office were truly there for me in my darkest hour…

Ajit Gupta

Greg Johnson is a charming attorney and seems to truly care about his client’s and the outcome of their case. If you ever need an experienced criminal defense Lawyer, Yannetti Criminal Defense Law Firm is the one to call!…

Ramone

“I’ve got your back,” he told me early on. David did not disappoint. By showing up with David in the courtroom, I felt I’d made a clear statement of intent. The case was duly dropped…

James Brooks

Martindale-Hubbell | AV | Preeminent | Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence | 2020
Best Lawyers | Best Law Firms | U.S. News | 2022
Avvo | 10.0 | Superb | Top Attorney Criminal Defense
Super Lawyers
Fox News | Criminal Defense Analyst
CNN | Criminal Defense Analyst
ID | Investigation Discovery | Consultant
Massachusetts | Lawyers Weekly | Criminal Defense Expert