Charged with a Crime? Know Your Rights

CHARGED WITH A CRIME? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO: BE REPRESENTED BY REMAIN SILENT AN ATTORNEY • You cannot be forced to speak during arrest or at trial, protecting you from self-inerimination • All criminal defendants have the right to adequate legal representation • You have the right to testify on your own behalf, but your lawyer may advise against this • If a defendant cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed by the government • Hire an experienced defense attorney for the best chance of a favorable outcome HAVE A JURY TRIAL HAVE A PUBLIC TRIAL • Jurors must be randomly selected members of the community • Public trials prevent the government from holding secret hearings that violate individual rights • Your lawyer can screen out potentially biased or unsympathetic jurors • In some cases, the court will close a hearing to protect a victim's identity, usually a minor HAVE A SPEEDY TRIAL CONFRONT WITNESSES • This right does not guarantee conclusion of a trial by a set time but does prevent undue delays » You have the right to cross-examine and question witnesses and to counter their testimony • Defendants are protected • This requires witnesses to from excessive time face the accused in spent in jail before guilt has been established person, which is believed to prevent perjury NOT BE CHARGED TWICE FOR THE SAME OFFENSE • The state is prohibited from retrying you for the same crime This is called double jeopardy • Double jeopardy provisions do not protect criminal defendants from civil court claims INFOGRAPHIC PROVIDED BY: (BIG BARTOLONE BARTOLONE LEGAL GROUP LEGAL GROU P wwW.BARTOLONELAW.COM Sources: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/defendants-rights-during-court-trial-29793.html http://www.legalmateh.com/law-library/article/rights-of-criminal-defendants.html http://www.bartolonelaw.com/practice-areas/criminal-defense.aspx