Rhode Island General Laws 27-4-7. Privilege against self-incrimination
No person shall be excused from attending and testifying or producing any books, papers, or other documents, before any court or magistrate, upon any investigation, proceeding, or trial for a violation of any of the provisions of § 27-4-6 [repealed], upon the ground or for the reason that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of that person may tend to convict him or her of a crime or subject him or her to a penalty or forfeiture. No person shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which that person may testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, and no testimony given or produced shall be received against him or her upon any criminal investigation or proceeding.
History of Section.
P.L. 1931, ch. 1757, § 11; G.L. 1938, ch. 153, § 11; G.L. 1956, § 27-4-7.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 27-4-7
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- magistrate: may be construed to mean a justice, or a clerk acting as a justice, of a district court. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.