Under what circumstances is a suspect entitled to Miranda warnings?

A suspect is entitled to Miranda warnings specifically during custodial interrogation. This legal requirement stems from the Miranda v. Arizona case, where the United States Supreme Court established that individuals taken into custody must be informed of their rights before being subjected to interrogation. The purpose of these warnings is to ensure that suspects are aware of their right to remain silent and to have legal counsel present during questioning, which helps protect their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

While there may be situations such as traffic stops where an officer may engage with a suspect, these encounters do not generally require Miranda warnings unless the individual is both in custody and subject to interrogation. Similarly, prior to an arrest or simply in the presence of a lawyer does not automatically invoke the need for these warnings; the critical factor is whether the suspect is being questioned while in custody. Thus, custodial interrogation is the specific context in which Miranda warnings are mandated, making it the correct answer.