Suspect

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''For the 1987 movie starring Cher, see Suspect (movie). See also The Usual Suspects, or S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S rap group for alt. info

Criminal procedure


Criminal investigation
Arrest warrant · Search warrant
Probable cause · Knock and announce
Exigent circumstance
Search and seizure · Arrest
Right to silence · Miranda warning (U.S.)
Grand jury
Criminal prosecution
Statute of limitations
Bill of attainder · Ex post facto law
Criminal jurisdiction · Extradition
Inquisitorial system · Adversarial system
Arraignment · Indictment
Nolo contendere (U.S.) · Plea bargain
Rights of the accused
Right to a fair trial
Presumption of innocence
Jury trial · Speedy trial
Habeas corpus · Bail
Exclusionary rule (U.S.)
Self-incrimination · Double jeopardy
Verdict and sentencing
Acquittal · Conviction (law)>Conviction
Not proven (Scot.)
Mandatory sentencing
Suspended sentence
Parole · Probation
Tariff (UK) · Life licence (UK)
Dangerous offender (Can.)
Cruel and unusual punishment
Capital punishment · Execution warrant
*Related areas of law*

Criminal law · Evidence
Civil procedure
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In the parlance of criminal justice, a suspect is a person, known or unknown, suspected of committing a crime.

Under the judicial system of U.S., once the identity of a suspect is known, and a decision is approved to arrest him or bind him over for trial, either by a prosecutor issuing an information, a grand jury issuing a true bill or indictment, or a judge issuing an arrest warrant, the suspect can then be properly called a defendant.

Much of the tension in murder mysteries results from there being a number of equally-likely suspects. A device often used in these mysteries is the culprit not being on the original list of suspects.

A popular suspect in murder mysteries and whodunits is the butler.