| Constitutional rights are in place to help protect | | | | Rights also came from the Fifth Amendment. |
| you from different things. If there is improper | | | | The Sixth Amendment gives you the right to |
| police conduct or you have been wrongly charged | | | | have an attorney, subpoena any witnesses to |
| you have rights. | | | | trial, for any witness to be cross-examined by the |
| Most of the constitutional rights have to be | | | | opposing attorney, to have a trial by jury, to be |
| observed at the state level also. There are a few | | | | told what your charges are and any possible |
| though that the states do not have to observe | | | | punishment that might arise if you are convicted |
| when prosecuting you. The particular ones that | | | | of the charges. You also get the right to a |
| are being referred to are the Right to Bear Arms, | | | | speedy trial which could keep you from sitting in |
| Right to Indictment by Grand Jury and Excessive | | | | jail for years while your case is prepared for the |
| Bail. | | | | courts. |
| If you are charged with a crime you will need to | | | | The Eighth Amendment protects you from an |
| know which rights will help to protect you and | | | | excessive bail if you are being federal prosecuted. |
| how. Article 1, Section 10 protects you from the | | | | It also prohibits excessive fines, unusual and cruel |
| ex post facto laws. This means if you are | | | | punishment in all punishments. |
| charged with a crime and the laws have changed | | | | The Fourteenth Amendment says everyone has |
| you can only be prosecuted for the laws that are | | | | the same rights and cannot be deprived of them |
| in effect at the time. The state cannot pass a | | | | as an individual or as a class of people. The states |
| new law just for prosecution of a person. | | | | get due process when doing state prosecutions. |
| The Fourth Amendment protects you from illegal | | | | As long as the law is carried out properly and |
| search and seizure conducted by the police. There | | | | your rights are not taken from you, then you will |
| are some exceptions to this, such as a warrant | | | | be convicted of any crimes you commit. You will |
| being issued. | | | | start the complete process from the moment |
| The Fifth Amendment makes it so you can only | | | | you are arrested and read your rights. Any crime |
| be tried for the same offense. It also gives you | | | | you commit is punishable whether it is at a state |
| the right to remain silent until your attorney is | | | | level or a federal level. Any crime you are |
| present. It also protects you from testifying | | | | charged with will be on your criminal records for |
| against yourself in the court of law. The Miranda | | | | many years to come. |