What defines custody for Miranda purposes?

• A. A restraint on freedom of movement where a reasonable person would feel they are not free to leave.
• B. When the suspect is brought to a jail.
• C. Only when the suspect is handcuffed.
• D. When the officer stops the suspect on the street.

Answer: (A)

Custody for Miranda purposes is defined by whether a reasonable person in the suspect’s position would feel they are not free to leave. This is an objective standard that looks at the suspect’s perception of coercion, not the officer’s intent. When that restraint exists—such as a formal arrest or a coercive environment that makes someone feel they cannot terminate the encounter—the person is in custody and Miranda warnings are required before interrogation. The description in the option matches this idea: a restraint on freedom of movement that would lead a reasonable person to feel they’re not free to leave. Being brought to a jail or handcuffed are common signs of custody but not the test itself, and a street stop isn’t automatically custody unless the circumstances create the same coercive feeling.