State v. FieldsState v. Fields
- Reporters:
- , ,
- Before:
- Campbell
Lead Opinion
The issue in this case is whether a confession was obtained during custodial interrogation so as to be inadmissible in the absence of Miranda warnings. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 US 436, 86 S Ct 1602, 16 L Ed 2d 694 (1966). Specifiсally, the case involves questioning of a probationer in a probation office on the request of police after he was advised that he was not under arrest or obligation to respond to questions.
Defendant was convicted of unauthorized use of a motor vehiсle. As a result of the conviction, defendant’s probation for two earlier offenses was revoked. The trial court found that defendant was not in custody and that the confession was therefore
Defendant was placed on probation in January, 1980 for theft in the first degree аnd unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. In March, 1980, defendant’s mother advised his probation officer, James Mohr, that defendant had driven a new black sporty car home and that she knew her son was without funds to make such a purchase. Mohr checked with the Eugene Police Department and, on March 11, 1980, was informed by Detective Stroebel that a car of similar description had been stolen from a Eugene car dеaler on March 8, 1980. Mohr went to defendant’s home. He asked defendant to accompany him to the probation office, both to fill оut a delinquent monthly probation report and to “talk to” Mohr. While defendant was ñlling out the probation report, Mohr telephoned Detectivе Stroebel and informed him of defendant’s presence. Detective Stroebel expressed an interest in speaking with defendant at the рrobation office about the reported theft. After the report was completed, Mohr took defendant into a conference room and closed the door. Detective Stroebel arrived and asked defendant to respond to questions regarding the theft, but madе it clear that defendant was not under arrest and was not obligated to respond to questions.
Defendant expressed a willingness to talk. Detective Stroebel detailed the car theft and defendant’s possible involvement in it, whereupon defendant said “I did it.” Defendant was arrested, advised of his Miranda rights, and transported to the Lane County Jail.
Our decision is guided by Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 US 492, 97 S Ct 711, 50 L Ed 2d 714 (1977). The victim of a burglary informed police that she suspected defendant parolee, Mathiason. A police officer lеft a note at Mathiason’s home suggesting that they meet at a patrol office. On Mathiason’s arrival at the station, the officer took him into a room, closed the door, and informed him that he was not under arrest. The officer told Mathiason that he believed Mathiason had beеn involved in the burglary, and falsely represented that Mathiason’s fingerprints had been found at the scene of the burglary. Mathiason confessed after five minutes in the room. The officer then advised Mathiason of his Miranda rights and released him. Mathiason was later arrested and convicted of first dеgree burglary. The Court found that the circumstances did not show Mathiason’s freedom to leave was in any way restricted. He voluntarily came tо the station and left after a 30 minute interview. The Court held that the confession was not obtained during custodial interrogation and was therefore admissible.
The Court said:
“Our decision in Miranda set forth rules of police procedure applicable to ‘custodial interrogation.’ ‘By custodial intеrrogation, we mean questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way.’ 384 US at 444,16 L Ed 2d 694, 86 S Ct 1602. a * * * * *
“In the present case, however, there is no indication that the questioning took place in a context where respondent’s freedom to depart was restricted in any way. He came voluntarily to the police station, where he was immediately informed that he was not under arrest. At the close of a 1/2 hour interview respondent did in fact leave the pоlice station without hinderance. It is clear from these facts that Mathiason was not in custody ‘or otherwise deprived of his freedom of аction in any significant way.’
“Such a noncustodial situation is not converted to one in which Miranda applies simply because a reviewing court concludes that, even in the absence of any formal arrest or restraint on freedom of movement, the questioning took plaсe in a ‘coercive environment.’ Any interview of one suspected of a crime by a policeofficer will have coercivе aspects to it, simply by virtue of the fact that the police officer is part of a law enforcement system which may utimately cause the suspect to be charged with a crime. But police officers are not required to administer Miranda warnings to everyone whom they quеstion. Nor is the requirement of warnings to be imposed simply because the questioning takes place in the station house, or because thе questioned person is one whom the police suspect. Miranda warnings are required only where there has been such a restriction оn a person’s freedom as to render him ‘in custody.’ It was that sort of coercive environment to which Miranda by its terms was made applicablе, and to which it is limited.” (Original emphasis). 429 US at 495,97 S Ct 711,50 L Ed 2d 714.
The only significant additional facts in this case are that the questioning took place in a probation оffice rather than in a patrol office and that defendant was arrested immediately after his confession, rather than being releasеd and later arrested. We conclude that these facts do not suggest a different result under the precedent of Mathiason. Defendant was not in aсtual custody and, under these facts, there is no reason to conclude that he was otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in аny significant way at the time of the questioning. We do not see subsequent release as the determining factor, since it sheds no light on whether custody еxisted before the point of confession.
We hold that a brief interview held in a probation office and conducted by a police detective after informing a probationer that he was not under arrest or obligation to respond to questions does not constitute a custodial interrogation giving rise to the requirements of Miranda.
Reversed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
As I understand it, the only issue in this case is whether defendant’s admission was obtained during tíustodial interrogаtion within the federal Miranda1 rule, and the majority opinion disagrees with the Court of Appeals only on the question whether the facts of defеndant’s situation qualified as “custodial” for that purpose. On that question I would affirm the Court of Appeals for the reasons stated in Judge Buttler’s opinion.
Notes
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 US 436, 86 S Ct 1602, 16 L Ed 2d 694 (1966).