Which amendment protects against self-incrimination?

The Fifth Amendment is the correct choice because it explicitly includes a provision that protects individuals from self-incrimination. This means that a person cannot be compelled to testify against themselves in a criminal case, which is often summarized by the phrase "pleading the Fifth." This protection is crucial for maintaining the principle that individuals are innocent until proven guilty and helps prevent coercion by the state.

The other amendments listed do not address the issue of self-incrimination. The Sixth Amendment focuses on the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a speedy trial and the right to counsel. The Eighth Amendment deals with issues of excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment. The First Amendment protects freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition, none of which relate to self-incrimination. Therefore, the Fifth Amendment is uniquely designed to safeguard individuals from being forced into self-incrimination during legal proceedings.