What does the Fifth Amendment protect against?

The Fifth Amendment provides important protections for individuals in legal proceedings, one of which is the right against self-incrimination. This means that a person cannot be compelled to testify against themselves in a criminal case, ensuring that individuals are not forced to provide evidence that could lead to their own conviction. This protection is fundamental to preserving the rights of the accused and maintaining a fair legal system, as it upholds the principle that one should not be required to bear witness against oneself.

In this context, self-incrimination helps to safeguard individual freedoms and the integrity of the judicial process by allowing individuals to remain silent rather than risking a biased or unfair outcome based on potentially coerced or false testimony. This also ties into the broader protective framework of the Fifth Amendment, which includes due process rights and safeguards against double jeopardy.

The other choices reflect important issues but are governed by different amendments or legal principles. For instance, involuntary servitude is primarily addressed by the Thirteenth Amendment, excessive bail falls under the Eighth Amendment, and racial discrimination is addressed in various contexts including the Fourteenth Amendment and civil rights laws.