Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Florida
Witnesses
Are there any laws in the United States that say if witnesses don't step in and try to stop a crime then they are guilty?
Asked on 10/06/03, 1:58 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Edward Hoffman
Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman
Re: Witnesses
Generally speaking, the law does not require bystanders to intervene in order to prevent a crime, even where they can do so with little or no risk. Some states have made a small number of exceptions to this general rule. Many other countries do require such intervention.
Even where the law does require such intervention, a violation of that law would not amount to a violation of the underlying crime. In other words, if I fail to aid an assault victim in a state that requires me to do so, I am guilty of failure to aid but I am not guilty of assault.
Answered on 10/06/03, 3:05 pm