Which case clarifies that police cannot punish conduct protected by the First Amendment?

• A. Duran v. City of Douglas, Arizona
• B. Mapp v. Ohio
• C. Miranda v. Arizona
• D. Roe v. Wade

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is that the First Amendment protects expressive activity, and police cannot punish someone simply for exercising that protected right. Duran v. City of Douglas, Arizona supports this by clarifying that criminal penalties cannot be imposed for First Amendment–protected conduct unless there’s a separate, legitimate basis for punishment (for example, unprotected aspects like incitement, true threats, or demonstrable disruption). In other words, peaceful speech or protest cannot be made a criminal offense just because it’s expressive.

The other cases address different constitutional protections. Mapp v. Ohio deals with the exclusionary rule for illegally obtained evidence, Miranda v. Arizona establishes rights to counsel and against self-incrimination, and Roe v. Wade concerns abortion rights. None of these directly clarifies that police cannot punish First Amendment–protected conduct.