Miranda Rule: Sign of an Enlightened System

Your article on the anniversary of the Miranda decision overly concerned itself with the effect of Miranda on convictions of those who have committed crimes.

We must never forget that the true importance of Miranda and the Fifth Amendment is the protection of the rights of the innocent. Without the Miranda warnings, the very true danger exists that the innocent, in a frightening environment and under intense questioning by experienced policemen, will break down and admit to committing crimes they did not commit. Even the most sophisticated of us can be made to admit to such crimes merely to end the questioning.

In analyzing Miranda, let us never forget that it protects the majority of us--the innocent.

ALAN R. HERSON

Temecula