Which amendment protects the right to counsel for detainees?

• A. First Amendment
• B. Sixth Amendment
• C. Eighth Amendment
• D. Fourteenth Amendment

Answer: (B)

The right to counsel in criminal prosecutions is protected by the Sixth Amendment. This amendment guarantees that someone facing criminal charges has the assistance of a lawyer, and if they cannot afford one, the government must provide one. The landmark ruling Gideon v. Wainwright established that this right applies in state courts as well, through incorporation by the Fourteenth Amendment, so detainees in criminal proceedings across the states have access to legal counsel. This protection focuses specifically on the role of counsel in defending against criminal charges, not on other rights covered by different amendments.