AMENDMENT V I

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witness in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.

This Amendment includes many important aspects in regard to once you are arrested:

The idea of a speedy trial today can mean waiting one year or longer for the actual trial to begin, pending the particular court's trial schedule.

No trial can be held secretly and must be open to the public. TV coverage is not the public, so individual judges can deem it necessary that the trial not be covered on TV. However, individual media personnel, as well as, any person can attend a trial.

When crimes are committed in different states, usually the person is tried where the first crime was committed unless a state decides that a more heinous crime, resulting in a stiffer sentence occurred in another state. The state can then agree that another state can try the individual first. Then the individual will be tried in the 2nd state. If federal crimes are involved, the federal courts will try the individual first.

You can request a trial by jury.

You must be informed of the crime(s) you are being accused.

You have the right to listen to the witnesses giving testimony against you and have the right to call witnesses in your defense.

Most importantly, if you cannot afford counsel, the court must appoint an attorney to assist in your defense.