Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas

passenger confesses to murder 30 years ago

I am a clinical psychologist and was on an airplane recently. During an 8 hour flight, the older woman I was talking with told me she poisoned her husband 30 years ago and it was never found out. Do I have any legal duty to report (it was not part of a therapy session)?


Asked on 11/06/06, 3:08 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
OCEAN BEACH ASSOCIATES OCEAN BEACH ASSOCIATES

Re: passenger confesses to murder 30 years ago

If she knew that your are a psychologist it may be argued that the priviledge would apply. Call me directly at 16192223504.

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Answered on 11/06/06, 6:26 pm
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: passenger confesses to murder 30 years ago

You have no legal duty to report what she told you, but reporting it would still be the right thing to do.

The only caveat is that the woman might try to claim you and she had formed a patient therapist relationship and that your report violated the legal privilege such a relationship creates. (If you actually had such a relationship, then you would be under a legal duty *not* to report her confession.) Such an argument would probably be very weak, but it could cause you serious headaches.

What the question boils down to is whether you consider it more important to avoid headaches or to help bring a killer to justice.

Feel free to contact me directly if you want to discuss this further.

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Answered on 11/07/06, 12:53 am


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