Research Paper: Part 1 – Cases Summary Instructions
Student Name
Course:
Instructor:
Strayer University
CRJ 310 - Law Enforcement Operations and Management
Research Paper: Part 1 – Cases Summary Instructions
Since 1963, a series of United States Supreme Court case decisions have clarified that
in+criminal+cases, prosecutors must disclose to the defense evidence favorable to the defendant.
This includes information that may be used to impeach the credibility of government witnesses,
including+law+enforcement officers. These decisions mean that police officers who have
documented histories of lying in official matters are liabilities to their agencies, and these
histories may render them unable to testify credibly.+
Summarize the main issues that are involved in the following United States Supreme Court
cases. You must have pages, not including your title page.+
J.D.B. v. North Carolina - Considering Juvenile Age in Miranda Rights:
J.D.B. v. North Carolina is a U.S. Supreme Court case from 2011 that examines whether a
suspect's age should be considered in determining whether they are "in custody" for Miranda
purposes. Answer the following questions:
1. What constitutional issue did J.D.B. v. North Carolina address, and how did the
case contribute to the legal standards surrounding the consideration of a suspect's
age in determining "custody" for Miranda rights?
J.D.B. v. North Carolina, a Supreme Court case decided in 2011, addressed the constitutional
issue of whether a suspect's age should be taken into account when determining if the individual
is "in custody" for the purposes of Miranda rights. The specific question was whether the age of
a juvenile suspect should be considered as a relevant factor in assessing whether the suspect is in
custody and therefore entitled to Miranda warnings.
In this case, a 13-year-old student was removed from his middle school classroom and
questioned by police officers in a closed-door conference room at the school about a series of
burglaries. The juvenile was not given Miranda warnings before the interrogation. The Supreme
Court, in a 5-4 decision, held that a child's age is a relevant factor in determining custody for
Miranda purposes.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the majority, emphasized that a child's age is a significant
factor because children may feel compelled to submit to authority figures, such as police officers,
and may not fully understand their rights. The Court concluded that the totality of the
circumstances, including the age of the suspect, should be considered when determining whether
