Suspect

A suspect is a person believed to have done something wrong, committed a crime or caused something bad to happen.^[1] In criminal law a person who is under suspicion or under investigation by law enforcement is considered a suspect.^[2] A prime suspect is believed by police to be the suspect who most probably committed a crime.^[3] A formal suspect may be arrested when the facts and circumstances would lead a reasonable person to believe a suspect may have committed a crime or is about to.^[2] In common law countries a suspect may have a defense attorney present while being questioned.^[4] The attorney may advise his or her client (the suspect) how to answer questions.^[4] Once a suspect is charged with a crime he or she becomes a defendant.^[5]

1. ↑ "suspect, noun [C]". Cambridge Dictionaries Online. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Suspect Law & Legal Definition". USLegal.com. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
3. ↑ "Prime Suspect Law & Legal Definition". USLegal.com. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Vivienne O’Connor, 'Common Law and Civil Law Traditions', INPROL (March, 2012), p. 24
5. ↑ "Court Terminology". Office of the District Attorney. Davidson & Davie Counties. Retrieved 20 July 2017.