What Rights Do People Have When They Are Suspected or Accused of Crimes?
Handout Read the protections in the Bill of Rights that are summarized below. Then answer the questions that follow. Fourth Amendment • People, their homes, and their possessions cannot be searched or taken by the government without a good reason. • In most cases, the police must get a warrant (permission from a judge) before they can conduct a search. Fifth Amendment • People who are accused of crimes do not have to give evidence against themselves. • People cannot be tried again for a crime for which they have been found innocent. • People’s lives, liberty, or property cannot be taken from them without due process of law. Sixth Amendment • A person accused of a crime has the right to a speedy, public trial by a jury (other citizens). • People must be told what crimes they are accused of. • People have a right to question the persons who are accusing them. • An accused person has the right to have a lawyer. Eighth Amendment • People arrested for crimes are entitled to be free on reaso
