PHOENIX, Ariz. — When Ernesto Miranda was arrested March 16, 1963, and charged with the rape, few, if any, could have known he would eventually be the centerpiece of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
The ensuing case, Miranda v. Arizona, ruled suspects in criminal cases must be informed of their right against self-incrimination and that suspects also have the right to consult an attorney before they are questioned by police.
Today, the Miranda warning may be best know for its role in television crime shows. But, it’s also the centerpiece of an exhibit at the Phoenix Police Museum.
The Museum traces its origins to October 1993. The original small museum in the city’s historic city hall has today blossomed to a more robust museum located in the same building.
Open to the public without charge, the museum features a number of exhibits that interpret the city’s law enforcement history.
One of the more unique exhibits is the jail rock with leg shackles attached to it. Dating to the 1860s, the jail rock was used to detain lawbreakers in the days before the city had a proper jail.
Another particularly poignant display is the Memorial Room. The memorial honors the Phoenix police officers killed in the line of duty.
For more information, visit www.phoenixpolicemuseum.com.
