Final answer:
Miranda rights are not required when there is a threat to public safety, known as the "public safety exception." While they are typically required even if a suspect is mentally incapacitated or has been arrested, in the interest of public safety, officers may question a suspect without the warning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Miranda rights are a critical aspect of police procedure, ensuring that suspects are aware of their constitutional rights during an interrogation. Regarding the question of when Miranda rights are not required, the correct answer is when there is a threat to public safety. This exception, often referred to as the "public safety exception," allows law enforcement officers to question a suspect without reading the Miranda rights if there is an immediate and significant threat to public safety, such as the location of a weapon that could harm others.
Miranda rights must be read to a suspect in situations other than the public safety exception. This includes when the suspect is mentally incapacitated or has already been arrested; in these cases, the suspect's statements may not be admissible in court if the proper Miranda warning was not provided prior to the interrogation.