Section 11.12 Involuntariness

• Library: Criminal Practice 2012 Supp

A. (§11.12) Involuntariness

Voluntariness is still the basic test for determining the admissibility of statements. This is true even if Mirandav. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), requirements are met. Dickerson v. United States, 530 U.S. 428, 444 (2000); State v. Schnick, 819 S.W.2d 330, 335–37 (Mo. banc 1991); State v. Blackman, 875 S.W.2d 122, 135 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994). The fact that a defendant waived Miranda rights is not dispositive on the issue of the voluntariness of the statement. Instead, the question must be, did the defendant willingly waive those rights? State v. Day, 970 S.W.2d 406, 409 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998).

The test for voluntariness is whether, under the totality of the circumstances, the defendant was...