The Importance Of Miranda Rights In Schools

In schools, students should be given Miranda type warnings to protect them from self-incrimination that they may face due to being, oftentimes, overmatched. The constitutional right should be extended to students who are questioned by law enforcement or school officials so that they are not forced to implicate others or compromise their own reputation. When students are interrogated by police or school officials the obvious authority imbalance can be intimidating and can force the juveniles to act impulsively. Miranda rights are read to those in "custody" which is loosely defined. When children are being scrutinized under the watchful eyes of authority figures, it usually feels as though they are in custody because they are unable to leave;
from this perspective, Miranda rights are indispensable. Reading Miranda rights to students may seem extreme and unnecessary, but it could save them from the self-incrimination that could result in criminal charges or severe school punishments. Students should have their constitutional rights adequately protected at all times, especially in a school environment where they should feel safe. The purpose of Miranda rights is to prevent one from being compelled to incriminate himself, and there is no adequate reason as to why this should not be extended to students facing criminal charges or parlous school punishments.