Legal Definitions - self-critical-analysis privilege

Self-critical-analysis privilege is a legal right that protects individuals and entities from disclosing the results of candid assessments of their compliance with laws and regulations. This privilege is founded on the public policy that it is beneficial to permit individuals and entities to confidentially evaluate their compliance with the law, so that they will monitor and improve their compliance with it.

For example, a company may conduct an internal audit to assess its compliance with environmental regulations. The results of this audit may reveal areas where the company is not in compliance. The self-critical-analysis privilege would protect the company from being forced to disclose these results in a legal proceeding.