• Derpenheim@lemmy.zip
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    2 months ago

    Invoking your fifth amendment cannot be used to as evidence against you in a criminal court, but it can be used in civil cases. Its called adverse inference. Basically in a civil court if you refuse to provide information, it can be used against you to decide a fine or penalty. But it cannot lead to your incarceration under a criminal indictment. Griffin V California from '65

    • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      Yes, but the case being referenced involved what it means to invoke your fifth amendment rights.
      Is remaining silent invoking the right, or do you have to state “I am invoking the right to remain silent”, or some other statement?

      Per the supreme Court, you can’t passively invoke the right and can only do so actively. So simply not answering a question isn’t invoking the fifth amendment and could be used against you.

      • TheJesusaurus@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        That seems fucking stupid as hell, why do you need to “invoke” any right at all? And why would there be a requirement to access this right that most people wouldn’t know

        • Takios@discuss.tchncs.de
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          2 months ago

          You’re talking about a country where “I want a lawyer, dawg” is not sufficient to be provided a lawyer, because the cops can reasonably think that you want a dog that’s a lawyer. The legal system in the US is beyond saving.