Monday, August 30, 2010

The Fifth Amendment

Rights of a Person

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment05/

Constitutional Connection


"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."  (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment05/)


Analysis of the Connection

According to my understanding, this law prevents people in the United States from being charged with tedious crimes such as J-Walking. For those who don't know, J-Walking is when you cross the street without obeying the traffic signs or crossing in the middle of the street.


Double jeopardy was a movie that clearly explains how double jeopardy works. These two couple were married, but the husband became bored with his marriage. He didn't want to tell his mate, so he took her on a cruise and faked his death. Since they were the only two on the cruise and the husband couldn't be fund, the wife did time for the "murder". In jail she learned that she in the state she was in, she couldn't be charged with the same crime twice. When she was released on parole, she learned that her husband was still alive. She then tracked him down and killed revenge, but thanks to double jeopardy, she couldn't be charged with the crime.





This picture illustrates a lawyer in a criminal over a petty case, but since the criminal pleaded the fifth the lawyer had no way to show off the evidence that he had because there was no argument. Still, the lawyer assumed that the defendants silence was proof of how guilty he was.

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