What is the purpose of the Miranda rights?

The purpose of the Miranda rights is to inform suspects of their rights regarding legal representation, particularly their right to remain silent and their right to an attorney. This set of rights originated from the U.S. Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona (1966), which established that individuals in police custody must be made aware of their rights before being interrogated. The intent is to protect the Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and ensure that individuals can make informed choices about participating in police questioning.

Understanding this context helps clarify why the other options do not align correctly with the purpose of the Miranda rights. Guaranteeing a fair trial pertains more to the judicial process and is not specifically related to the information given to suspects during interrogation. The role of Miranda rights is not to safeguard the general public, as that falls under law enforcement procedures and separate legal principles. Additionally, while suspects are informed of their rights, the Miranda rights do not explicitly require law enforcement to disclose the charges they face at the time of arrest; their focus is strictly on the individual’s rights during interrogation.