Criminal law. 1.RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATIONN. 2. A criminal defendant’s right not to be asked any questions by the judge or prosecution unless the defendant chooses to testify. — Also termed right not to be questioned.
privilege against self-incrimination 〈美〉不自证其罪特权指根据美国宪法第五条修正案及州宪法的类似条款，在任何刑事案件中应根据证据论罪而被告享有不得被强迫自证其罪的特权。该特权仅限于被告可以不提供作为证据的口供，而不适用于诸如笔迹、指纹等物证。任何证人，在被迫召来提供证词时，亦可引用这一特权；但在其自愿作证时，则认为已放弃此特权。尽管此项特权大多在刑事审判中提出，不过任何人亦可在民事、行政、大陪审团及立法程序以「美国第五条修正案作为辩护的理由」〔plead the Fifth〕。此项特权是对抗式刑事审判制度〔accusatorial system〕的核心，与无罪推定〔presumption of innocence〕一起共同要求由国家负担控诉之责〔burden of prosecution〕。该词亦称right against self-incrimination; right to remain silent。 (→self-incrimination; immunity; link-in-chain)