Witness Intimidation in the United States

Victim and Witness Intimidation in relation to Crime and Race

Victim and Witness Intimidation is included in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime (1), beginning with: Victim or witness intimidation is the practice of threatening, harming, or otherwise instilling fear in a victim of, or witness to, a crime, in an effort to prevent him or her from reporting a crime or testifying in court. It may also be used to convince a victim or witness to recant testimony that has already been made. The intimidation may involve physical violence, explicit threats of physical violence, implicit threats, and/or property damage. Threats may be made by the defendant or by his or her friends, family, fellow gang members, or other associates. Most victim and witness intimidation takes place in time either between the defendant’s arrest and his or her trial or during the trial, in the courtroom. The current practice of victim and witness intimidation can be categorized into two broad types.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Entry about Victim and Witness Intimidation in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime

See Also