It's depressing.
We have a wingnut "supreme" court that has no idea what it's like to be
a normal, non-privileged American. All their friends are rich, so
that's the only group they consider in their decisions.
To make a long story short, they decided that if the police take you down to the station house and question you -- without arresting you -- and you "remain silent" in response to questions, your silence can be used against you! Duh. This is the exact opposite of the Miranda rights. I can't imagine a more un-American decision. Do the justices even live in this country?
In light of this appalling decision, I assume that requesting an attorney before being questioned will be a defendant's only "right". But to instantiate this right, the person would have to know enough to claim it -- and that would require an awareness most defendants don't possess. Due to financial circumstances, poor people tend not to be well-educated, so it's absurd to expect them to know what to do in these situations. And most immigrants, particularly recent arrivals, will also be unaware of their rights.
So the police will know these facts while thevictim
defendant does not. The officers will have the upper hand at all times
and will hold off on arresting a suspect, hoping he will "go silent".
And then they can do whatever the hell they want to him.
America. Land of opportunity. This is so sad.
To make a long story short, they decided that if the police take you down to the station house and question you -- without arresting you -- and you "remain silent" in response to questions, your silence can be used against you! Duh. This is the exact opposite of the Miranda rights. I can't imagine a more un-American decision. Do the justices even live in this country?
In light of this appalling decision, I assume that requesting an attorney before being questioned will be a defendant's only "right". But to instantiate this right, the person would have to know enough to claim it -- and that would require an awareness most defendants don't possess. Due to financial circumstances, poor people tend not to be well-educated, so it's absurd to expect them to know what to do in these situations. And most immigrants, particularly recent arrivals, will also be unaware of their rights.
So the police will know these facts while the
America. Land of opportunity. This is so sad.
