self-incriminating statement

[/self ɪnˈkrɪmɪneɪtɪŋ ˈsteɪtmənt/]
nounpl: self-incriminating statements
declaração autoinculpadora
1. A statement made by a person that tends to prove their own guilt or involvement in a crime or wrongdoing
The defendant's self-incriminating statement led to his conviction.
A declaração autoinculpadora do réu levou à sua condenação.
2. An admission or confession that provides evidence against oneself in legal proceedings
He avoided making any self-incriminating statements during the police interrogation.
Ele evitou fazer qualquer declaração autoinculpadora durante o interrogatório policial.
3. A voluntary utterance that suggests personal culpability or wrongdoing
In court, witnesses must be careful not to make self-incriminating statements.
Em tribunal, as testemunhas devem ter cuidado para não fazer declarações autoinculpadoras.
In both American and Brazilian legal systems, individuals have constitutional protections against self-incrimination. The Fifth Amendment in the USA and similar protections in Brazil grant citizens the right to refuse to make self-incriminating statements. Legal counsel typically advises clients to exercise this right. This principle is fundamental to adversarial justice systems and reflects the belief that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution, not the defendant.
NYC Slang
snitching on yourself; ratting yourself out
Synonyms / Sinônimos
self-incriminating evidenceadmission of guiltconfessionincriminatory statementself-accusatory remark
Antonyms / Antônimos
exculpatory statementexonerating evidencedeclaration of innocencealibi

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
declaração autoinculpadora
Most common formal legal term used in Brazilian courts
Brazil (informal)
confissão prejudicial
Informal reference to a damaging admission
São Paulo
declaração autoinculpadora
Standard legal terminology in São Paulo courts
Portugal
declaração autoinculpatória
Portuguese variant spelling; less commonly used than the Spanish or Brazilian equivalent

Related Words

Miranda rightsright to remain silentincriminationlegal confessiontestimonyevidencedue process

Related Idioms & Phrases

put your foot in your mouth
hang yourself
give yourself away
speak against oneself
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