If I am the victim of an on-going investigation against a sex offender, do I have the legal right to not say anything?
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If I am the victim of an on-going investigation against a sex offender, do I have the legal right to not say anything?
It is an investigation against someone who impersonated a teenager over the internet and who made intimate relationships with. I was one of the intimate relationships.
Asked on March 12, 2011 under Criminal Law, Georgia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution gives you the right to not incriminate yourself. That means, you have the right to "remain silent" and not respond to questions or otherwise say anything if doing so would tend to incriminate you criminally, or give rise to criminal liability. So you probably do have the right to not say anything to the authorities--not that that prevents them from investigating or prosecuting based on other evidence. If you haven't alread, retain a criminal defense attorney with experience in this area IMMEDIATELY--the potential consequences are enormous, and include jail time and being put on sex offender registries. You need advice, counsel, and representation to defend yourself, or at least mitigate any penalties.
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