Legal Definitions - suspect

A suspect is an individual whom law enforcement authorities believe may have committed a crime or been involved in a criminal act. At this stage, the person has not been formally charged with an offense, nor have they been found guilty by a court. Being identified as a suspect means they are under investigation, and while they are subject to police inquiry, they are also afforded specific legal rights and protections under the law.

• Example 1: Witness Identification
  After a jewelry store robbery, a security guard provides police with a detailed description of a person seen fleeing the scene. When officers locate an individual matching that description a few blocks away, that person becomes a suspect in the robbery. This illustrates the term because the individual is believed to have committed the crime based on witness testimony, but has not yet been arrested or charged.

• Example 2: Forensic Evidence
  During an investigation into a home invasion, detectives discover a unique shoe print outside a broken window. When a person is later found with shoes matching that specific print, they are identified as a suspect. Here, the forensic evidence links the individual to the crime scene, creating a belief of their potential involvement, even though no formal charges have been filed.

• Example 3: Circumstantial Evidence
  Following a series of arsons in a small town, police learn that a particular individual had recently made threats against several of the affected property owners and was seen near one of the fires shortly before it ignited. This individual becomes a suspect because the combination of motive and proximity creates a reasonable belief that they might be responsible for the crimes, prompting further investigation.