What are my rights if I have to go to trial for a crime I have been accused of? Defendants have several legal rights during a trial. The purpose of these rights is to ensure that the accused receives a fair trial. The legal rights of the accused during a trial include the following: the right to confront a witness, the right to a mandatory trial, the right to an attorney, and the right to an impartial jury. The only thing these rights have in common is outlined in the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. According to authors Siegel and Worrall (2013), the right to confront a witness is consistent with the Sixth Amendment (p. 388). . Defendants have the right to confront anyone who accuses them of illegal or inappropriate behavior that poses a threat to a community. This applies to all defendants in both federal and state courts. The accused not only has the right to confront a witness, but can also actively participate in the trial. There is a confrontation clause that limits and controls the level and method of testing. The general purpose of this clause is to enable the accused. For example, evidence given at the preliminary hearing cannot be used if the witness is not present. However, if it could be shown that the defendant was responsible for the witness's absence, previous testimony given could be used. A trial cannot be based on hearsay evidence. A consequence for not allowing a defendant to confront witnesses can result in a mistrial. The rights of the defendants have been violated and further action must be taken. The right to a mandatory trial is related to the right to confront a witness. This right is also in line with the Sixth Amendment. D...... half of the sheet...... e.g. The right to counseling involves providing and allowing the accused to be assisted throughout the criminal trial. The right to an impartial jury involves providing a panel of jurors who are not biased, prejudiced, and who have been proven to have no connection to the defendant. Works CitedFarlex Inc. (2013). Sixth Amendment. Retrieved from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Sixth+Amendment. Reuters, T. (2013). The right to advice. Retrieved from http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-rights/the-right-to-counsel.html. Siegel and Worrall (2014). Introduction to Criminal Justice, 14th Edition. Legal rights during the trial. Cengage Learning p. 388-390.The Missouri Bar (2006). The right to confront witnesses and mandatory trial. Retrieved from http://members.mobar.org/civics/ConfrontWitness.htm.