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.)
Your Fifth Amendment Privilege Against Self-Incrimination
When can you “claim the Fifth”? When should you?
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.