Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that people cannot be forced to testify against themselves in a criminal case. It also provides that a person cannot be placed in jeopardy twice for the same offense. Amendment 5 also guarantees that (1) a person cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; (2) a person cannot be held to answer for a “capital, or otherwise infamous crime” unless he or she has been indicted by a grand jury, except that military personnel are subject to court-martial; and (3) property cannot be taken from a person without just compensation. Amendment 5 is a part of the Bill of Rights that was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. See also Bill of rights; Due process of law; Constitution of the United States.
