A person cannot be forced by the government to provide statements that could be used to help prove they committed a crime.

"Cannot be forced" means the protection applies when police, prosecutors, or a court try to compel an answer through custody, questioning, subpoenas, or testimony. "Statements" includes spoken answers, written admissions, and sometimes acts that communicate information. "Could be used" does not require certainty; the risk of criminal exposure is enough. "To prove they committed a crime" is the core limit: the right protects against compelled self-accusation, not against every uncomfortable question. In the United States, this protection comes from the Fifth Amendment, and Oregon has a related guarantee in Article I, section 12 of the Oregon Constitution.

Practically, the right often matters at the earliest stage of a case, especially after an arrest, a crash investigation, or a serious injury event. A person may refuse to answer questions that might lead to criminal charges, and officers must follow Miranda rights rules before custodial interrogation. Invoking the right can limit what the state can use later.

In an injury claim, that silence can shape the evidence. After a collision, for example, a driver facing possible DUII or assault charges may decline to give details, which can affect liability, insurance investigations, and related civil claims. In Oregon, a civil recovery can also be reduced by comparative fault under ORS 31.600; if an injured person is 51% or more at fault, recovery is barred.