Suspect facts for kids
A suspect is a person who the police or other authorities think might have done something wrong, like committing a crime. When someone is being investigated by law enforcement, they are considered a suspect.
A prime suspect is the person the police believe is most likely to have committed a crime. If there are enough facts and reasons to believe a suspect has committed or is about to commit a crime, they might be arrested.
In countries that follow common law, like the United States or the United Kingdom, a suspect can have a defense attorney with them when they are being questioned. This attorney can help advise the suspect on how to answer questions. Once a suspect is officially accused of a crime, they become a defendant.
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How Police Question Suspects
In Common Law Countries
In the past, in common law countries, police could not force a suspect to answer questions. However, things have changed. For example, in the United Kingdom, police can now require suspects to be questioned. Suspects must listen to all questions, but they can legally choose not to answer. Once a suspect in the UK is officially accused, no more questions can be asked.
In the United States, if someone becomes a prime suspect, they must be told about their Miranda rights before police can question them. These rights include the right to remain silent and the right to have a lawyer present. If the suspect asks for a lawyer, one must be provided before questioning can continue.
In Civil Law Countries
In civil law countries, like France, suspects can be questioned by both the police and judges. This is done to figure out if there is enough evidence to take the suspect to trial.
The investigation usually has a few steps:
- First, the police question the suspect.
- Next, a special judge, sometimes called a juge d'instruction in France, questions the suspect.
- Finally, if the investigation shows a strong case, it goes to a court for a trial.
Words Often Confused with Suspect
What is a Person of Interest?
A "person of interest" is a term police sometimes use for someone they are interested in, but it's not a legal term. This person might just have information about a case, or they could be a witness. Police might be suspicious of someone but don't have enough evidence yet to call them a suspect. Sometimes, police might use this term even when they really mean "suspect."
Suspect vs. Perpetrator
It's important not to confuse a suspect with a perpetrator. A suspect is someone who is thought to have committed a crime. A perpetrator, also sometimes called a culprit, is the person who actually committed the crime. Good police work helps them narrow down the suspects until they find the real perpetrator.
In some countries, like the US and England, police have the power to arrest and hold suspects. Sometimes, in cases that get a lot of attention from the news, police might hold a suspect for a short time and then release them without any charges. The news media often finds out about the release, and reporters and paparazzi might be there to take pictures. This can sometimes make the public think that suspects are guilty, even if they are innocent.
