Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Law Firm
Constitutional Rights of Criminal Defendants
During the founding days of the United States, legislators established inalienable rights for criminal defendants. They even wrote these rights into the United States Constitution and bolstered them with the passage of the first ten Amendments to the Constitution, often referred to as the "Bill of Rights." The Supreme Court later passed the fourteenth amendment, which gave defendants in state trials rights similar to the due process protections already afforded to federal defendants.
A knowledgeable Colorado Springs criminal attorney can walk you through your rights and ensure that you get every protection guaranteed to you under the law.
Your guaranteed rights under the Constitution include:
- Protection against cruel and unusual punishment
- Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
- Protection against self-incrimination and ex post facto laws (changes in the laws that criminalize acts that occurred in the past)
- Freedom from excessive bailment and fines
- Right to confront witnesses who testify against you
- Right to call your own supporting witnesses
- Right to receive equal protection from the justice system, get a speedy and public hearing, and to have your case heard by a jury made of impartial peers
- Protection from double jeopardy (going to trial for the same matter twice).
Conclusion
Our criminal-justice system is designed through constitutional protections to provide a criminal defendant with a fair trial. If you face any phase of the process, consult an experienced Colorado Springs criminal attorney as early as possible to enlist an important ally in your quest to protect your legal and constitutional rights.
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.
February 3rd, 2012