Pratt v. State

The question presented on this appeal is whether the procedural safeguards required by Miranda v. State of Arizona, 384 U. S. 436, apply to a custodial interrogation of an accused conducted by a person employed by a mercantile establishment and commissioned by the Governor of this State to act as a policeman. We find that they do. Thus Miranda again requires reversal of a judgment because a statement was obtained from an accused and introduced in evidence without compliance with the Miranda standards. The judgment here was the conviction of Bernard Lorenzo Pratt (appellant) of grand larceny…