You have rights when you get arrested, but do you understand them?
Chances are you’re already familiar with your Miranda rights (“You have the right to remain silent, anything you say… etc.) Even people who’ve never been arrested before in their lives have usually heard suspects being Mirandized after they’re arrested on TV or in movies.
If you follow our blog on this site, then you’re already familiar with some of the facts about your Miranda rights (which you can read about here). However, it turns out that being Mirandized isn’t as clear cut as people previously thought.
Ever stopped to think about what your Miranda rights really mean?
Okay, think about it. When a cop puts the cuffs on you and reads you your Miranda rights, what exactly do they say? “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford one, an attorney will be provided for free.”
So what exactly does that all mean? Well, to sum up most people’s understanding of their Miranda rights: You don’t have to say anything, but if you do it can be used as evidence against you in court. You can get a lawyer is you want one, but if you can’t afford one the court will give you a free one.” But is that really what that means, or is that just what people assume it means?
A Michigan case reveals how that generalized warning can be misunderstood!
Laricca Seminta Mathews was accused of shooting and killing her boyfriend in their Wixom, Michigan apartment in August of 2016. She was charged with Open Murder, two counts of Discharge of a Firearm Inside a Building, and two counts of Possession of a Firearm During The Commision of a Felony.
After the police arrived at her Oakland County apartment she was arrested and Mirandized by Detective Stowinsky of the Wixom Police, who read her her rights. The interview was later continued by another detective who reminded her of her rights, and asked again that she understood them. In both cases, Mathews told the officer that she understood her rights. But did she really?
Until then, if you’re arrested in Michigan and need a lawyer…
Your Miranda rights will tell you that you have the right to an attorney. What they don’t tell you is that not hiring an attorney is probably one of the biggest mistakes you could make! Trying to defend yourself against criminal charges is, quite literally, an exercise in stupidity. And letting the court assign you a court-appointed attorney is sometimes worse than a waste of time.
If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime in Michigan, call The Kronzek Firm at 866 766 5245. Our top criminal defense attorneys are available 24/7 to help you work through this difficult time and get the best possible results in your case. We’ve been helping our clients fight criminal charges across the lower peninsula for near a quarter century. We can help you now!