Constitutional Rights

The United States prides itself on having a fair criminal justice system. A large part of this is that suspects and defendants are provided with due process in law.  Due process can be a difficult term to define, but essentially, it means being treated fairly. How...

Religious freedom is a fundamental right protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Of particular importance in this regard are the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. Violations of these clauses can significantly impact individuals'...

Law enforcement encounters are a routine part of daily life, but what happens when a police stop crosses the line and infringes upon your constitutional rights? The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution is the cornerstone of protection against...

The Bill of Rights contains some of the most important protections for people in the United States. Each of the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution helps to enshrine different protections for individuals. They specifically address the rights that people have when...

Everyone in America has rights -- even those serving a prison sentence. Yet some corrections facilities in New Mexico consistently violate inmate rights in defiance of the U.S. Constitution. Government and prison officials have a duty to uphold the human rights of...

U.S. citizens have many constitutional rights. The First Amendment, for example, protects people’s freedom of speech, press and religion. The Fifth Amendment protects people from making self-incriminating comments that may be used against them. An important...

There are actually only a limited number of reasons police officers can search your car when they have pulled you over: You consented to the search The officers have a valid search warrant The officers reasonably believe searching your car is necessary for their own...