I wonder if something like the 5th amendment exists in the Federation
They literally had an entire episode where it was a plot point. The 7th Guarantee. (Ep was The Drumhead.)
Time for another watch through of TNG I suppose. That one has been a while
The right to not self incriminate is universal among democracies. The 5th amendment is even on the weaker side of the right. For example, in lots of European countries there’s a specific guarantee that silence can not be used to make negative inferences against the accused, and the accused might even have the right to lie and destroy evidence (with some limitations).
that silence can not be used to make negative inferences against the accused
This is also protected by the 5th amendment, but in the United States it is usually a crime to lie to the police for any reason, or to destroy evidence with the aim to thwart an investigation.
From the episode “The First Booty”
hey wait a minute he’s right
In my country, Data enters you!
Is your country the communist space soap opera?
Meanwhile, data
Yar: I only have sex with human males, and devices which run on batteries.
Interviewer: Lt Cmdr Data runs on batteries.
Yar: I SAID WHAT I SAID
