MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

True or False: A juvenile must be read their Miranda Rights before they are interrogated.

1. True

2. False

3. Only if requested

4. Only for serious crimes

The correct answer is: False

The assertion is that a juvenile must be read their Miranda Rights before being interrogated to ensure that they are informed of their rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present during questioning. However, the determination of whether Miranda rights need to be administered is based on the circumstances surrounding the interrogation rather than the age of the individual alone. The requirement to read Miranda Rights applies in situations where individuals are in custody and subject to interrogation. If a juvenile is not in custody or if the interrogation does not involve direct questioning about a crime, then technically, Miranda warnings may not be required. Thus, while in practice, police may often choose to read a juvenile their rights as a precaution to ensure compliance with legal standards and to uphold the juvenile's rights, it is not an absolute requirement in every scenario. This is why the statement is considered false, as the necessity for Miranda warnings depends on the specifics of the interrogation rather than simply the age of the individual involved.