If a suspect in custody is read Miranda warnings, waives rights, and confesses to the same offense after an earlier unadvised confession, is the second confession admissible?

• A. Admissible.
• B. Admissible only if the first confession is suppressed.
• C. Inadmissible because the first confession was obtained unlawfully.
• D. Admissible only if the suspect recants the first confession.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that statements made after proper Miranda warnings and a valid waiver are admissible in court, even if there was an earlier unadvised confession. Once the suspect is read the warnings and knowingly waives rights, the safeguards apply to the interrogation that follows. The prior unadvised confession doesn’t automatically taint the later one; the second confession can be admitted as long as it was voluntary and obtained after the warnings.

In this scenario, the suspect was given warnings, waived, and confessed to the same offense again. That second confession meets the Miranda requirement and is admissible. The first confession, while it may be used to impeach credibility if the defendant testifies, does not prevent the second confession from being admitted.