Legal Definitions - exculpatory-no doctrine

The exculpatory-no doctrine is a principle in criminal law that states a person cannot be charged with making a false statement for falsely denying guilt in response to an investigator's question. This doctrine is based on the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

For example, if a police officer asks a suspect if they committed a crime and the suspect denies it, they cannot be charged with making a false statement. This is because the suspect has the right to remain silent and not incriminate themselves.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court has overruled this doctrine in federal law. In the case of Brogan v. United States, the court ruled that a person can be charged with making a false statement even if they were denying guilt in response to an investigator's question.