What Are my Rights if I Have Been Arrested or Accused of a Crime in Virginia?
Those accused of crimes have certain rights guaranteed by the Virginia Constitution and the United States Constitution. These rights include, among others, the right to remain silent in order to avoid self-incrimination, the right to legal counsel, the right to reasonable bail, right to a jury trial, the right to be informed of the charges against you, the right to confront any witnesses against you, as well as numerous other rights. Moreover, a criminal defendant is also presumed innocent until proven guilty. This means the government has the burden of proving a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A defendant does not have to do anything or say anything to prove he is innocent. Also, a defendant cannot be forced to testify against him or herself at their own trial. There are also laws and constitutional protections concerning search and seizure which require police to obtain a search warrant before they are allowed to search a specific place. How Can I Get the Charge Taken Off
