Adolescents have a legal privilege against self-incrimination.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Not sure
• D. Unknown

Answer: (B)

The fundamental protection against self-incrimination applies to everyone, including adolescents. The Fifth Amendment safeguards that a person cannot be forced to provide testimony or information that could be used to convict them of a crime. In practice, this means that when a minor is questioned by police or in school or child welfare investigations, they should be informed of their rights and may choose to stay silent or request an attorney. The privilege is meant to prevent coercive interrogation of youths and to ensure any statements are voluntary. While there are specific procedures and context-specific rules, the core idea remains: adolescents have the legal right not to self-incriminate.