Opinion ID: 2195033
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Advice of adult court prosecution

Text: In Miranda v. Arizona, the United States Supreme Court held that a criminal suspect facing interrogation must be informed that he has a right to remain silent, that anything he says can be used in court, that he has a right to consult with an attorney and to have the attorney present during interrogation, and that, if indigent, an attorney will be appointed to represent him. 384 U.S. 436, 467-73, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). A suspect may waive his rights, as long as he does so voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. Id. at 444, 86 S.Ct. 1602. When a juvenile is interrogated in connection with a crime that might be prosecuted outside of juvenile court, there is heightened concern that the juvenile understands that any inculpatory statements he makes after waiving his Miranda rights can be used against him in adult court. State v. Loyd, 297 Minn. 442, 445, 212 N.W.2d 671, 674 (1973). We have stated that the best course is to specifically warn the minor that his statement can be used in adult court, particularly when the juvenile might be misled by the protective, nonadversary environment that juvenile court fosters. Id. at 449-50, 212 N.W.2d at 676-77. When investigators do not specifically warn a juvenile of possible adult prosecution, a Miranda waiver still may be effective because [a]wareness of potential criminal responsibility may often be imputed to a juvenile when the police are conducting the interrogation. Id. at 450, 86 S.Ct. 1602 212 N.W.2d at 677. To determine whether adult court prosecution may be imputed to a juvenile, we examine several factors including the circumstances of the juvenile's arrest and the discussions that preceded administration of the Miranda rights. See State v. Ouk, 516 N.W.2d 180, 185 (Minn.1994). In Ouk, we held that criminal responsibility could be imputed to a 15-year-old defendant whose home had been surrounded by more than two dozen armed police officers, who was told during two hours of negotiations that he was a suspect in a shooting and robbery, who was handcuffed upon arrest, and who was taken directly to a homicide unit conference room. Id. In State v. Williams, we held that a juvenile could reasonably anticipate adult prosecution because several police squad cars surrounded the car using highly adversarial felony arrest maneuvers, and the juvenile was told that police were investigating a double homicide. 535 N.W.2d 277, 287 (Minn.1995). In Burrell's case, the videotape of his interrogation made pursuant to State v. Scales, 518 N.W.2d 587 (Minn.1994), indicates that Burrell was handcuffed upon entering a police department interrogation room. Before any Miranda warning was administered, an investigator told Burrell that we're looking at that little girl that got shot and asked Burrell some questions. Burrell was then given his Miranda rights. Burrell was then asked whether he wanted to tell his side, and he responded: I didn't know anything about what happened to that little girl or anything. Based on the physical restraints used during Burrell's arrest and the conversations indicating that Burrell knew that police officers had apprehended him in connection with Tyesha's killing, we conclude that knowledge of possible adult court prosecution could be imputed to Burrell.