Which case is commonly cited for requiring police to inform suspects of their rights before questioning?

• A. Marbury v. Madison.
• B. New Jersey v. TLO.
• C. Plessy v. Ferguson.
• D. Miranda v. Arizona.

Answer: (D)

The idea here is that police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning to protect against self-incrimination and to ensure any waiver of those rights is voluntary and informed. This rule comes from Miranda v. Arizona, a Supreme Court decision that requires custodial interrogation to begin with a clear warning of the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, with any waiver being knowingly and voluntarily made. If those rights aren’t clearly explained or the waiver isn’t voluntary, statements made during interrogation may be excluded from evidence in court. The other cases address different constitutional issues—Marbury v. Madison deals with judicial review, New Jersey v. TLO concerns searches in schools, and Plessy v. Ferguson concerns racial segregation—so they don’t establish the police-warning rule.