A person voluntarily approaches the police and initiates talk, while not in custody. Do Miranda warnings apply?

• A. True.
• B. False.
• C. Only if the person later becomes a suspect.
• D. Only if the police intend to use the statement in court.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that Miranda warnings are required only when a person is in custody and being interrogated. If someone voluntarily approaches the police and initiates talk while not in custody, there is no custodial interrogation, so Miranda warnings aren’t required. The statements made in that noncustodial, voluntary encounter are generally admissible if they’re voluntary and not coerced. If the person later is arrested and placed in custody for questioning about the matter, then warnings would be required for that custodial interrogation. The other options misstate the trigger by tying warning necessity to later events or to the police’s use of the statement, rather than to the custody and interrogation context at the time of questioning.