Witness Relocation

[bernie]

A bud and me were discussing this the other night.

This would be a tough decision.

Say you see a murder by a notorious gang/mob and are offered this in exchange for your testimony. You also have the option of testifying w/o protection or just not testifying.

Given that if you take the deal, life as you know it will cease to exist. You won't see your friends or family again, not to mention you won't be able to do many of the 'outside' things you are accustomed to even in the new place that they move you to.

Would you take the deal?

Pros/cons?

b

[TStoneMBD]

not tough at all. dont testify.

[tbach24]

What's the mob's offer for you not telling? Just that you get to live? I wouldn't tell anyways, but I'd try for some free EV.

[fluxrad]

Tough call, definitely -EV all around.

But our whole system of justice crumbles if no one is willing to testify against these types of crimes. As much as I'd hate the thought of not seeing my family/friends ever again, I think this is the price I pay to live in a civilized society. It's the same as the draft or jury duty...some things you just have to do.

Also, I voted to testify because I don't think you wouldn't be able to do "outside" things in your new life. Assuming they moved you some place new and gave you a new name I don't think the feds are going to prevent you from ever leaving your house or going to a ball game, etc. That just doesn't sound realistic.

EDIT: The other thing you forget is that there's no way the feds move you but don't move your family. Consider that killing your wife/kids is probably an easier method for the Mob to convince you not to testify so the feds would have to move your family too (just maybe not with you).

[[censored]]

I could not make a decision that would not allow me to see my family.

I would want to testify and hope that I would. However I would not put my family in any danger so it would depend on the level of risk.

[J.R.]

[ QUOTE ]
notorious gang/mob

[/ QUOTE ]

they are gonna take your word u won't ever testify against them?

[JaBlue]

Don't they move the whole family in these types of deals?
i wouldn't do it.


on an aside: how come they don't just let you go into the police station and record your testimony there, garble it up so it isn't recognizable, and then present it to the jury with only the judge knowing the identity of the speaker? maybe because of lack of cross-examination but it seems like this is a pretty obvious way for people to present testimonials without getting whacked (???)

[fluxrad]

[ QUOTE ]

on an aside: how come they don't just let you go into the police station and record your testimony there, garble it up so it isn't recognizable, and then present it to the jury with only the judge knowing the identity of the speaker? maybe because of lack of cross-examination but it seems like this is a pretty obvious way for people to present testimonials without getting whacked (???)

[/ QUOTE ]

Amendment VI

[JaBlue]

you will have to go into more detail

[Voltron87]

If you went to the mob and offered to be quiet for $$, they would know who you are, and what you know, and kill you.