LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE SUPREME COURT - POLICE PERCEPTIONS OF THE MIRANDA REQUIREMENTS

• NCJ Number: 6768
• Journal: Tennessee Law Review Volume: 39 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1972) Pages: 407-431
• Author(s): D H STEPHENS; R L FLANDERS
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: Tennessee Law Review Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

POLICE OFFICERS WERE INTERVIEWED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE MIRANDA DECISION'S IMPLEMENTATION AND THEIR VIEWS OF THE RULING'S EFFECT ON INTERROGATION PROCEDURES.

Abstract

THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED WITH CITY AND COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HELD THE RANK OF DETECTIVE OR ABOVE IN KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND MACON, GEORGIA. THE SURVEY INDICATED THE EXISTENCE OF A HIGH LEVEL OF ADHERENCE TO THE LETTER OF THE DECISION, BUT VERY LIMITED COMPLIANCE WITH ITS POLICY OBJECTIVES. THERE WAS LITTLE SUGGESTION OF CHANGE IN ROUTINE PROCEDURES FOR QUESTIONING SUSPECTS. THOSE INTERVIEWED DISPLAYED AN ATTITUDE OF AMBIVALENCE IN ASSESSING THE IMPORT OF MIRANDA. A WIDE GAP EXISTED BETWEEN THEIR GENERAL NEGATIVE REACTION TO THE DECISION AND THEIR SIMULTANEOUS ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT IT HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON THEIR ROUTINE WORK. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED