If you have witnessed a crime or crimes, are you legally obligated to report it?

Question

I have witnessed a certain individual and several supporting actors commit horendous crimes. Crimes that would carry the death penalty for anyone under Constitutional law. Am I obligated to report these crimes? Even if the criminal is the President of the United States of America?

Who would I tell that would listen?

Or should I just get my affairs in order and pack a toothbrush?

horrendous....missed a key.

Answer 1

Yes, you are obligated, both legally and morally. Tell the police.

Answer 2

Part of your civic responsibilitiesand obligations as a citizen is patroticsm,if you witness a crime being committed your duty is to report the matter to the appropriate authority irrespective of the personality involved.It is a fact that most of the time the authority empowerd to investigate such cases do go to back door and reveal the souce of their information,it is wrong.I will advice you do not conceal anything regarding commission of an offence to yorself it coul be dangerous.President is not above the law,if can not be prosecuted while in the office he can be prosecuted after living the office.When a crime that carry death penalty is committed and somebody says because is afraid it let go tomorrow it could be his turn and there would be no justice.According to law of evidence a person who witness a commission of a crime is regarded as a crown witness and his evidence is first grade.

Answer 3

Two cases to read about.

David Kaczynski turned in his brother, Ted, the "Unabomber." One of his reasons for doing this was that he did this was that he believed that his brother might kill again. Ted is a paranoid schizophrenic and prosecutors promised David that they would not seek the death penalty for Ted. They changed their mind and went for it. Very good lawyers managed to get a sentence of life without parole.

In a very similar case, Bill Babbitt turned in his brother, Manny, who also suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, for murder. California prosecutors promised Bill that they would not seek the death penalty. They changed their minds. Manny Babbitt was executed.

The Kaczynskis are white, the Babbitts are African Americans.

Answer 4

i think of almost about capital crimes it immediately will become a case of withholding info or hindering an examine. while you're turning out to be mugged in front of my residing house, you greater powerful desire I undergo in ideas the form for 911.

Answer 5

You are obligated to report it; otherwise you yourself can be arrested for obstruction of justice, or even as an accessory to the crime.

Answer 6

years ago 30 people watched a woman get mugged, raped,
and murdered

all because it was someone else's job to report it

for you -
pack a toothbrush and don't let the door hit you on the way out

Answer 7

From a moral stand point you should, no matter what the
consequences to yourself, always tell and always tell the
truth, do not lie do not concoct anything, but do speak out.....

There are so many people who let things like this pass them
by, and the Police never hear about them, and cannot catch
a perp, definitely tell, no matter what........................................

Now there may be a risk to you or your family, so tell your
family to butt out and risk it and tell the Police or Law enforcement anyway.................................................................

It is worse to let crime proliferate, always do the right thing,
even if others tell you not to do it...............................................