Miranda Warnings
On June 17, 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court decided Salinas v. Texas, which has major implications regarding criminal procedure and police practices.
Issue before the U.S. Supreme Court
The question before the court was: “Whether the prosecution may use a defendant’s assertion of the privilege against self-incrimination during a non-custodial police interview?
However, the Court failed to answer that question because the defendant did not assert his 5th Am. right.
Facts
Genovevo Salinas was questioned by police investigating a murder. He was not in custody and did not receive any Miranda warnings. Salinas agreed to go to the police station with officers where he was questioned and voluntarily answered questions except for one where he was asked if the shotgun shells found at the crime would match the gun in Salinas’ home. During trial, the prosecutor used that fact to argue to the jury that it suggested Salinas was guilty. This was not the only evidence against Salinas as the shotgun did match the shells at the crime scene and a witness claimed Salinas admitted to the murder.
This Decision
The Court held that the 5th Am. Does not establish a complete right to remain silent but only guarantees that the criminal defendant may not be forced to testify against themselves.
So, if you are voluntarily talking to police, not in custody, and choose to “remain silent” to their question(s) it can and will be used against you. The days of just say nothing are gone.
What if you do assert your 5th Am. right? Justice Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that in his view, even if you do invoke your 5th Am. right during pre-custody questioning, the prosecutor can still comment on your assertion as evidence of guilt, because that is not self-incriminating testimony. Essentially what this says is that “you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
Charleston Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have a case involving Miranda warnings, call an experienced and trusted Mt. Pleasant criminal attorney at the Dale Savage Law Firm today for a free consultation (843) 530-7813.