The Miranda Warnings need to be reformed in light of the recent US Supreme Court decision that Justice Sotomayor says "turns Miranda upside down." On May 31, 2010, the Supreme Court decided Berghuis v. Thompkins, holding that a suspect must clearly invoke his or her right to remain silent in order to be protected against compelled self-incrimination. But that's at odds with what the current Miranda Warnings generally state, e.g. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law..." etc. If police read a suspect this sort of Miranda warning, then a suspect who does not know about the recent ruling will naturally believe that saying "I'm going to remain silent" would be admissible against him in court.
Write your state legislatures and other local politicians and tell them that the Miranda Warnings in your city or state need to be revamped. The Miranda Warnings need to say something like:
"You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to invoke this right, you must clearly inform us that you wish to remain silent. If you chose to waive this right, then anything you say can and will be used against you in court..."
Please tell you friends and please speak up. We cannot make the Supreme Court come to any particular decision, but we CAN influence our political leaders to revise state and local laws!
In Arizona, go HERE to find your legislators: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp!
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