The Privilege Against Self-Incrimination
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that no one “shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” But what, exactly, does that mean?
(For information on the privilege against self-incrimination as it relates to the police, see Questioning by the Police. And to learn about a way the government can make people talk, see Immunity From Prosecution.)
All About the Privilege
All About the Privilege
Questions About Incrimination
Questions About Incrimination
What's the reason for the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination? For some reason, it only seems fair that people don’t have to talk when they’re in trouble with the law.
More Legal Topics
- Burden of Proof
- Criminal Jurisdiction
- Criminal State of Mind
- Defenses to Criminal Charges
- Discovery: Finding Out About the Prosecutor’s Case
- Double Jeopardy
- Eyewitness Identification
- Forensic Evidence
- Juries in Criminal Cases
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More Legal Topics
- Burden of Proof
- Criminal Jurisdiction
- Criminal State of Mind
- Defenses to Criminal Charges
- Discovery: Finding Out About the Prosecutor’s Case
- Double Jeopardy
- Eyewitness Identification
- Forensic Evidence
- Juries in Criminal Cases
- Rules of Evidence
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