When do Miranda rights actually apply? The answer comes down to one key question: are you “in custody”?

In this episode of Cuffs & Case Law, we break down what “in custody” really means using real Supreme Court cases and practical scenarios.

We walk through:

• Questioning in your home (even late at night)
• Voluntary interviews at a police station
• Traffic stops and roadside questioning
• When being a “suspect” actually matters (and when it doesn’t)

The Supreme Court has made this clear: Miranda warnings are required only when a person’s freedom is restricted to the level of a formal arrest—not just because questioning feels coercive.

If you want a clear, practical understanding of your rights (or how courts actually apply them), this is the breakdown you need.

Key Supreme Court cases covered:

• Orozco v. Texas (1969)
• Oregon v. Mathiason (1977)
• Berkemer v. McCarty (1984)
• Stansbury v. California (1994)
• Thompson v. Keohane (1995)
• J.D.B. v. North Carolina (2011)
• Howes v. Fields (2012)

#MirandaRights #CriminalLaw #PoliceLaw #FifthAmendment