What is a Garrity Warning?

• A. A warning informing of potential penalties
• B. A warning to preserve constitutional rights
• C. A warning read to employees involved in an administrative internal investigation, reminding them of the importance of being truthful
• D. A notice of overtime pay

Answer: (C)

The Garrity Warning is a specific immunity-based warning given to public employees during an internal administrative investigation. It tells the employee that the questions are being asked under immunity with respect to the matter under investigation, so their truthful answers cannot be used to prosecute them criminally in connection with those same facts. The aim is to secure candid, truthful testimony for the internal inquiry. If the employee refuses to answer, the agency can discipline or terminate them. This makes the warning distinctive from general penalties or rights reminders because its purpose is to enable honest cooperation by protecting the employee from criminal use of their compelled statements, while still allowing internal discipline for noncooperation. That aligns with the choice describing a warning read to employees in an internal investigation that emphasizes being truthful.