What does "in custody" mean for Miranda purposes?
The test is objective and situational. Would a reasonable person in that position have understood themselves to be free to end the encounter and leave?
Factors courts weigh: whether the person was told they were free to go, the location and whether it was familiar, the number of officers present, whether weapons were displayed, whether the person was restrained or handcuffed, the duration, the tone and accusatory nature of the questioning, and whether the person came voluntarily or was transported.
What doesn't control: what the officer subjectively intended, what the officer told the person about their status, or whether the word "arrest" was used. A person told they aren't under arrest can still be in custody. A person who was formally arrested is plainly in custody.
The most litigated version is the station-house interview where someone came in voluntarily and then found the situation changed. Voluntary arrival doesn't freeze the analysis — circumstances can shift the encounter into custody partway through.
Not being told you're under arrest isn't the same as not being in custody. ---
Talk to an Attorney — Free
An answer on a page isn't the same as advice about your case. Talk to an attorney who handles these matters on the Treasure Coast — free and confidential.