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Simple English definitions for legal terms
suspect
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A quick definition of suspect:
A suspect is someone who is believed to have done something wrong, like breaking the law. But, they haven't been proven guilty yet. If the police think someone is a suspect, they might arrest them and take them to jail. But, the suspect has rights, like not having to say anything that could make them look guilty. The police have to tell the suspect their rights before they ask them any questions. If the suspect doesn't want to talk, they can say so and the police have to stop asking them questions.
A more thorough explanation:
A suspect is a person who is believed to have committed a crime, but has not yet been found guilty. For example, if a store is robbed and the police have reason to believe that a certain person may have been involved, that person would be considered a suspect until they are either cleared of suspicion or found guilty.
According to the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution, a suspect has the right to be free from unlawful seizures, which includes arrests. This means that the police cannot simply arrest someone without a valid reason or warrant. However, if the police witness a crime being committed or have probable cause to believe that a suspect is about to commit a crime, they may make an arrest without a warrant.
Once a suspect is arrested, they are typically read their Miranda Rights, which include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. If a suspect is being questioned by the police while in custody, they must be informed of these rights. If a suspect chooses to exercise their right to remain silent, the police cannot continue to question them without violating their rights.
It is important to note that being a suspect does not mean that a person is guilty of a crime. Until a suspect is found guilty in a court of law, they are innocent until proven guilty.