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Join the conversation! There are now 9 comments on this chapter's page 108. It’s So Easy (to Waive Your Rights). What are your thoughts?
  1. Rich says

    Why would anyone sign such a form anyway?

    The last sentence by itself almost creates a confession given the way its worded. I have to hope this was not a real example of how it was worded. There’s far too little room between “my case” and “my crime” in that disclaimer for my liking…

    • You’d be surprised how willing people are to sign a little bit of paperwork if they think it will work out in their favor. They don’t know they’re doing, or think they do, but are very wrong.

      EULAs are the primary example of people not reading or not trying to understand what’s happening. Those only get by because it’s in the best interest of the company making them to not put anything slimy up. For a legal waiver such as “I choose to not blame any injuries etc” they won’t even let you participate until you sign.

      For this…This is duplicity of the utmost kind. But cops don’t have to do many things, and it’s in THEIR best interest to bypass the system whenever possible…

  2. Raen says

    Now that I think about it, that fourth right – it’s my understanding that, at least in a lot of states, to get access to a public defender, you have to meet income requirements.

    How self-incrimination relates to taxes and public benefits in general where illegal income is concerned, I think you’ve said you’ll get to in the future – but what about access to a public defender? It strikes me as particularly egregious for excess income to be used against a defendant who reported it to gain access to a defense in the matter of the source of that income.

    • Well, said illegal income wouldn’t take you from the level where you can afford your own lawyer to the level where you can’t.

      • Sorry, to expand on this, I made a rather incomplete statement there. Basically, excess income wouldn’t aid you in gaining access to a court-appointed lawyer anyway, so you wouldn’t report it.

    • You have a right to an attorney. Not to a free one. You only get a free one if you can’t afford to pay for one. I don’t think it’s an income requirement, but based on your ability to pay. of which your income is a factor. If there’s a disagreement on whether or not you should be entitled to a public defender, there would be a hearing about it (and to be honest, if you can afford a lawyer, you REALLY don’t want the free one. They’re overworked and you don’t get a choice on who you get).

      Suspected illegal assets are usually frozen, so I don’t think they’d count towards your ability to pay a lawyer (if they are illegal income, they take it away).

  3. NerfSmuggler says

    Just realized that the female officer in panel 4 is wearing Han Solo’s pants and boots. Fun! thanks.

  4. WJS says

    This seems to me to make it quite clear that despite what the courts claim, most people don’t understand what the Miranda means. (i.e. “Shut up, you idiot!”)

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