If you knew a family member had commited a serious crime?

Question

and it had not been found out and you knew by reporting it they would face many years in prison what would you do?Do you think its right to report it and they could lose all they have or just let it be.

This crime happened sometime ago and after an investigation nothing could be proved but Ive known about it for a long time and I think I would need witness protection if I said anything.God I just dont know what I should do

Answer 1

Oh my goodness! What an impossible question to answer! I suppose to start with it would depend on the actual crime. Whether anyone was hurt in any way. And then on your relationship with that family member.

It must be so difficult to contemplate having a close family member locked up.

However, you say that the crime was investigated and nothing could be proved. So unless you have concrete EVIDENCE to PROVE that this person committed it - which would allow the investigation to be reopened - it is probably best left alone.

Chances are that during the investigation, it was OBVIOUS that this person had committed the crime but it could not be PROVED. There is a difference between KNOWING and PROVING!

So you might be beating yourself up about nothing.

Good luck.

Answer 2

if they broke the law, who's guilty? You who reported them, or the guy/ gal who broke the law? What message is it sending them if they continue to get away with crimes? They may commit greater and greater crimes. Also, what kind of environment might their children be living in? What are they learning? Who made the choice to aid in the break down of the social structure? What if their crime is making meth? where are the dangerous chemicals? What health risks is he/ she putting their children, and neighborhood? Sometimes when making a dangerous or painful decision, we need to remember that. It is hard. I would not feel guilty for reporting them. Really. Though I would definitley feel bad for the life style they are choosing. Many people who choose violent, criminal lifestyles...their children also do the same. Perhaps they would learn a lesson, if you report them immediatley and change their lives before coming hardened criminals.

Answer 3

Depends on who it is and what the conditions are.

Like for example I love my sister. She's one of the most beautiful people in the world, and I know she cannot harm anybody intentionally. I wouldn't report her if she did something accidentally. She has epilepsy and she has to be well taken care of. I would never let her go to jail for something she did accidentally. And also I know if she did she wouldn't keep it a secret. Her conscience would already make her report herself.

Well, yours is not a question to answer with just a plain yes or no. Life is not that easy.

Answer 4

Life is not as simple as you make it. When you are involved with a family member you love them implicitly . If they do a crime you are terrified for their sake...that they will go to prison...that they will be hung..that the will be despised. Fear takes hold of you and you are not able to think properly. Its easy to say "."Yes I would shop them" but would you really if it came to the point? I am not sure that I could. I would be horrified, terrified and would probably not be able to cope with it. Sorry ,I cannot give you the answer to this because I haven't been in that position and I would be dead scared if I was and wouldn't be able to think properly.....so I don't know what I would do.

Answer 5

Depends on the crime and how close that family member is to you, if you turn them in you run the risk of being shut out by a few of the family members, think very carefully before taking any action if that's what you decide to do

Answer 6

It depends on the crime. If they murdered or raped someone, they would go to jail. If it was something minor involving money, I would probably not report it. But I would torture them about it.

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.



Edit: It looks as if I am copying others responses, but I honestly did not read any before I posted this. It just happens to be the common morality.

Answer 7

I am sure I would report it to the police, I would still be there for the person if they needed support, family or not they did wrong, if you can't report it write it on this site under another name and let someone else alert the police. Terrorists get away with stuff because their families won't tell on them. Same thing here mate.TELL.

Answer 8

I would report it for sure. If the family member hasn't learned to take responsibility for themselves and their actions, then they need to learn about cause and effect before they commit a crime of serious consequence that could injure or even be lethal to others & themselves.

Answer 9

It's your legal duty as a citizen to report the crime. However, the moral implications of grassing on a family member could have huge implications for you and could lead to you being outcast from your clan.

It would depend on who did it and what they did. If it was child rape or murder, I would consider informing. If it was theft, I wouldn't bother. Politicians and rich swines steal everyday and get away with it.

Answer 10

i would shop them , if not u would become responsible for aid and abetting a crime, and perverting the course of justice if it ever got found out and went to court that u actually knew,
also this person would need serious help, or they could continue to do even more serious crimes which u could feel guilty about, as u could have had the oppurtunity to stop this person and get them the help they need !