Bloomberg View: The Boston Bombings and the Law
Protecting the rights of the accused is in the public’s best interest
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Even if no one ever told him so, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had the right to remain silent. And even if he never utters another word, there is probably more than enough evidence to convict him.
The main purpose of the Miranda warning is to protect the rights of the accused. Practically speaking, however, it helps protect law enforcement at least as much: Without it, any information authorities get from a suspect is inadmissible in court. They’re always free to ask whatever they want; they’re not always free to present it as evidence.