Editorial Board
Kids Need Miranda Rights They Can Understand
Which makes more sense to a 10-year-old: "You have the right to remain silent," or "It's OK if you don't want to talk"?
Even adults get tripped up by this.
Photograph: MPI/Getty ImagesMost Americans recognize the Miranda warning from its starring role in the denouement of practically every cop show on TV. In real life, however, there is no such thing as the Miranda warning. Different agencies and jurisdictions have different ways of telling suspects they have the right to remain silent and to an attorney, and that anything they say can and will be used against them in a court of law.
One study found almost 900 variations of the warning, ranging in length from 21 to 408 words and with different degrees of complexity. Many adults have difficulty comprehending and retaining the warning -- and for young people, the problem is far worse.