Which case concerns the two-stage interrogation tactic used to extract a confession?

• A. Berghuis v. Thompkins
• B. Caldwell v State
• C. Missouri v Seibert
• D. North Carolina v Butler

Answer: (C)

The tactic being tested is a two-stage interrogation designed to bypass Miranda by first questioning in custody without warnings, then giving warnings and continuing to question to secure a confession. Missouri v. Seibert specifically addresses this approach. The Supreme Court ruled that deliberately using a two-step process to obtain a confession in this way undercuts the purpose of Miranda and is unconstitutional. If the police withhold warnings to get an initial confession and later re-question after warnings, the taint from that unwarned stage generally cannot be cured, and the statements from the unwarned stage are not admissible. The second stage may not reliably stand on its own unless there’s a truly independent, valid waiver and the taint is shown to be gone. So, this case directly concerns that exact tactic and its illegality.