Miranda v. Arizona: The Rights of the Accused (Snapshots in History)

On March 13, 1963, Ernesto Miranda confessed to three crimes. Based on his confession, Miranda was convicted at trial, but some lawyers thought Miranda's rights had been denied. The lawyers helped Miranda wage a three-year legal battle, which reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In an historic decision, the Court said anyone accused of a crime had "the right to remain silent." This and several other legal protections are now part of the Miranda Warning read to every person who is arrested in the United States.