Once Miranda rights are read, when should questioning cease?

Once Miranda rights are read to a suspect, questioning must cease if the suspect requests an attorney. This is a critical aspect of protecting a suspect's Fifth Amendment rights, which guarantee the right against self-incrimination. If the individual indicates they want legal representation, law enforcement is obligated to respect that request and halt any further interrogation until an attorney is present. This safeguard ensures that suspects can obtain legal advice before making statements that could potentially incriminate them.

The other circumstances—such as being unresponsive, asking for a break, or an officer having enough evidence—do not carry the same legal weight. A suspect may be unresponsive for various reasons, which does not necessarily indicate their desire to engage in questioning or exercise their rights. Similarly, asking for a break does not specifically invoke their right to counsel and could be interpreted in many ways, but it isn't a definitive request for legal representation. Lastly, the presence of sufficient evidence does not dictate whether questioning should continue; the focus remains on the suspect's rights rather than the officer's perception of their case strength. Thus, the correct understanding of when to cease questioning centers explicitly on the request for an attorney.