SCOTUS: Silence Can Be Evidence of Guilt

Crime suspects need to speak up if they want to invoke their legal right to remain silent, the Supreme Court said Monday in a ruling that highlights the limited reach of the famous Miranda decision.

June 19, 2013

Photo: POLICE fileCrime suspects need to speak up if they want to invoke their legal right to remain silent, the Supreme Court said Monday in a ruling that highlights the limited reach of the famous Miranda decision.

The 5-4 ruling upheld the murder conviction of a Texas man who bit his lip and sat silently when a police officer asked him about the shotgun shells that were found at the scene of a double slaying. They had been traced to the suspect's shotgun.

At his trial, prosecutors pointed to the defendant's silence as evidence of his guilt. In affirming the conviction of Genovevo Salinas, the court's majority admitted that some suspects might think they had a right to say nothing.

"Popular misconceptions notwithstanding," the Constitution "does not establish an unqualified 'right to remain silent,'" said Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Read the full Los Angeles Times story.

Editorial

Maximizing Fleet Efficiency and Accountability with Traka Key Management Solutions

Maximizing Fleet Efficiency and Accountability with Traka Key Management Solutions

Pol 07 17 2023 Hi Res Cover375x480

SPECIAL REPORT: Officer Health & Safety

Banner Final Gettyimages 1310108875 170667a

Staying Ahead of the Curve: Navigating Emerging Drugs for Law Enforcement

Banner Final Gettyimages 470407026 170667a

How to Support More Effective De-Escalation and Use-of-Force Training

Memphis Officer Killed Last Week in Shootout May Have been Hit by Friendly Fire

"Although current information indicates friendly fire, we believe the 17-year-old’s reprehensible actions are still the real cause of Officer McKinney’s death..." the DA's office said in a statement.

Tunnels to Towers Pays Off Mortgage for Slain New York Deputy’s Family

“On behalf of the CNY T2T crew, our condolences go out to the family, friends and fellow officers of Onondaga County Sherrifs Lt. Michael Hoosock and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen,” Tunnels to Towers said.

Investigators Believe New York Man Killed Officers Over Grudge

Christopher R. Murphy, 33, shot and killed Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Hoosock and Syracuse police Officer Michael Jensen Sunday night in Salina outside of the residence where Murphy lived with his parents.

New York Officer Wounded in “Ambush” Attack, Suspect Killed

When he got out of his patrol vehicle and started to approach the suspect’s vehicle, the officer came under fire.

Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins and Mayor Kathy Sheehan brief the press about a shooting that wounded an Albany officer on April 17, 2024.

Indiana Deputy Killed by Downed Power Lines Responding to Crash

According to Hendricks County Sheriff Jack Sadler, Deputy Fred Fislar was responding to a single-vehicle accident around 11:50 p.m. where a passenger car hit a utility pole, leaving low-hanging electrical wires near the crash site.

Judge Awards Nearly $23 Million to Undercover St. Louis Officer Beaten by Colleagues During 2017 Protest

Luther Hall sued three of his former colleagues — Randy Hays, Dustin Boone and Christopher Myers — in 2022 over their actions five years earlier during public protests.

Nebraska Officer Killed During Traffic Stop Crash

Officer Ross Bartlett’s vehicle was stopped and performing a traffic stop involving a Nissan sedan around 7:37 p.m. when a Ford pickup truck hit the rear of his patrol unit pushing it into the sedan.

Ceresco, Nebraska, Police Officer Ross Bartlett was killed Friday night when his vehicle was hit during a traffic stop.

2 New York Officers Shot and Killed Sunday in Gun Battle

Sheriff Toby Shelly said Lt. Michael Hoosock was seeking cover in an adjacent yard when he was ambushed and killed. The suspect reportedly fired on him with an AR-15 rifle from an open deck at the rear of his residence.

Minnesota Deputy Shot, Suspect Dead in Warrant Service Shooting

In a press conference Wednesday evening, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said the injuries of the wounded deputy were non-life-threatening but "very serious."

Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Stabbing Florida Deputy

St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson said his deputy was trying to help the woman when she attacked him.

FBI Warns About Increased Risk of Foreign Terrorists Targeting U.S.

"Foreign terrorists, including ISIS, al-Qaida and their adherents, have renewed calls for attacks against Jewish communities here in the United States and across the West in statements and propaganda," FBI Director Christopher Wray said.

Small Explosive Device Exposes Florida Deputy to White Powder During Traffic Stop

Deputies called in the St. Johns County Fire Rescue hazardous materials team, the state fire marshal's office, and the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office bomb squad to determine the nature of the substance and check the vehicle for additional devices

Page 1 of 2353