Witness tampering

Witness tampering

Witness tampering is harming or otherwise threatening a witness, hoping to influence his or her testimony.

In the United States, the crime of witness tampering in federal cases is defined by statute at UnitedStatesCode|18|1512, "Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant". The punishment for such an offense is up to 20 years if physical force was used or attempted, and up to 10 years if physical force was only threatened. The tampering need not have actually been successful in order for it to be criminal.

One of the better known cases involving section 1512 is "Arthur Andersen LLP v. United States", decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2005. The Supreme Court ruled that section 1512 had been misinterpreted by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and reversed the decision of the lower court which had found the firm guilty of violating the section. The issue had, to some extent, become moot, because in 2002 the firm had all but dissolved as a result of prosecution on this criminal charge.

ee also

*Jury tampering

Buddy Cianci was indicted on a charge of witness tampering.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • witness tampering — noun Talking to a witness, hoping for them to lie, or change their opinion, about what really happened …   Wiktionary

  • witness tampering — The federal Victim and Witness Protection Act prohibits the intimidation and harassment of witnesses before they testify, as well as prohibiting retaliation, or threats of retaliation, against witnesses after they testify. 18 U.S.C.A. No. 1512… …   Black's law dictionary

  • David Paterson witness tampering and perjury scandals — New York Governor David Paterson in 2010 was accused of witness tampering to protect an aide accused of abusing his girlfriend and lying under oath about whether he intended to pay for 2009 World Series tickets at Yankee Stadium. In the wake of… …   Wikipedia

  • witness — wit·ness 1 n [Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from wit mind, sense, knowledge] 1 a: attestation of a fact or event in witness whereof the parties have executed this release b: evidence (as of the authenticity of a conveyance by… …   Law dictionary

  • witness — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 person who sees sth ADJECTIVE ▪ crucial (esp. BrE), key, material, vital (esp. BrE) ▪ As the last person to see her alive, he was a material witness in the case. ▪ independent …   Collocations dictionary

  • witness — verb To subscribe one s name to a deed, will, or other document, for the purpose of attesting its authenticity, and proving its execution, if required, by bearing witness thereto. See also affirmation attest jurat verification noun …   Black's law dictionary

  • witness protection program — witness protection pro·gram n: a state or federal program designed to protect prosecution witnesses in serious criminal cases esp. from bodily injury or tampering (as by providing aid in establishing a new identity in a new location) Merriam… …   Law dictionary

  • tampering — noun Tampering is used after these nouns: ↑witness …   Collocations dictionary

  • Jury tampering — is the crime of unduly attempting to influence the composition and/or decisions of a jury during the course of a trial. The means by which this crime could be perpetrated can include attempting to discredit potential jurors to ensure they will… …   Wikipedia

  • Ball tampering controversy in August 2006 — On 20 August, 2006, during the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval, Darrel Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove ruled that the Pakistani team had been involved in ball tampering. They awarded five penalty runs… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”