Relationship between Comprehension of Specific Legal Vocabulary Words and Comprehension of Miranda Right Warning

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of the relationship between juveniles' comprehension of specific vocabulary words and their overall comprehension of the Miranda rights warning. Comprehension of Miranda rights was assessed with the Comprehension of Miranda Rights - II (CMR-II), and, understanding of specific vocabulary words was evaluated by the Comprehension of Miranda Rights - Vocabulary - (CMV-II). Participants were between the ages of 13 and 18, residing in a post-adjudication juvenile justice. Findings suggest that although an individual may have a reasonable understanding of specific vocabulary words in a Miranda warning, they may not have a strong understanding of the warning itself. Therefore, when youth are read their Miranda rights they may require more than comprehension of the individual vocabulary words to have a basic understanding of the whole warning.%%%%M.S., Psychology – Drexel University, 2003