suspects

A suspect is a person believed to be connected to a crime based on initial evidence or inquiries, but who has not been charged with an offense or found guilty.

In many systems, law enforcement uses the term during the early stages of an investigation. A suspect differs from a person of interest, who may be questioned or monitored, and from an arrestee who has been detained, or a defendant who has been formally charged.

The status of a suspect can change as evidence accumulates. Investigators gather information through interviews, forensics, surveillance, and records checks to determine whether there is enough evidence to file charges.

Suspects retain rights such as the presumption of innocence, the right to legal counsel, and protections against self-incrimination in many jurisdictions. Officials should avoid public statements that presume guilt to prevent prejudice and misperception.

Becoming a suspect carries social and legal consequences but does not prove guilt. Charges may be dropped, or an investigation may clear the person; if charged and later found not guilty, the label may be moot. The use of the term varies by legal system, and some jurisdictions distinguish more carefully between suspect, person of interest, arrestee, and defendant.