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self-incrimination

[ self-in-krim-uh-ney-shuhn, self- ]

noun

  1. the act of incriminating oneself or exposing oneself to prosecution, especially by giving evidence or testimony.


self-incrimination

  1. Being forced or coerced to testify against oneself. Self-incrimination is prohibited by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution .
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Notes

Prohibiting self-incrimination not only helps guarantee due process of law , but also maintains one of the basic principles of American law by putting the burden of proof on the prosecution. ( See also Miranda decision .)
Under this principle, a person may choose (given certain restrictions) to “take the Fifth,” refusing to testify in court or before a legislative or executive committee.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of self-incrimination1

First recorded in 1920–25
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Example Sentences

At one point, the report says that when investigators tried to interview McDonnell, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Prosecutors had argued that subpoenaing Weisselberg to testify would probably be a waste of time due to his loyalty to Trump and the likelihood that he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

And the judge said “appropriate safeguards” can be put in place to allow for the lawsuits to advance without infringing on Trump’s Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination.

The 63-year-old Hill invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when called to the stand Friday, local news outlets reported.

Eastman repeatedly invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination when he appeared before the House Jan. 6 committee, which recommended that the Department of Justice consider prosecuting him.

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self-incriminatingself-induced