Whats the difference between and snitch and a witness?

Question

Whats the difference between a snitch and a witness? Essay question asked by one of my professors in response to the "Stop Snitching" campaign...just wanted some opinions to go on...

Answer 1

A snitch is a criminal. A witness is not.

Answer 2

A whistle-blower, witness and snitch are similar with a few slight differences. Whistle-blower is a term that is often associated with protecting someone who identifies an illegal act and reports it - example would be someone at work reports an infraction and is protected by policy or law from being fired for making the report. This is often the case for specific types of acts: abuse of power, sexual harassment, embezzlement, ethics etc. Snitch is similar, but more likely used to describe someone who tattle-tells on others for doing wrong, but not necessarily for the infractions listed above. A witness is someone who observes an act, and reports its occurrence to the proper authorities. I believe that anyone who witnesses an illegal act has an obligation to take some sort of action: stop the act; report it to the authorities; or confront the person doing wrong.

Answer 3

A snitch is usually a "paid informant." Someone the cops use to collect information undercover for minimum wage. He often supplies information that is not admissible in court but can be used to further an investigation. He often is a criminal also, but since his crimes are relatively minor, the cops look the other way hoping to catch bigger fish. The testimony of a snitch in court is looked upon as being less than reliable and therefore they seldom end up in court even though they may be involved in a lot of cases.

A witness is not paid and has information specific to one case.
The better the character and reputation of the witness, the better they are in regards to being believed. One of the weapons used against witnesses is to prove they are lying, such as Mark Fereman in the OJ trial.

Mark was the guy who found the bloody sock at OJs house. The sock was full of blood from Nicole Simpson. The defense wanted the jury to believe Mark planted the sock and was lying when he said he found it at OJs. They could not prove he was lying about the sock but they could prove he lied about never having used the "N.......R" word. Once they proved he lied under oath about that, all of his testimony was considered tainted. And that is what got OJ off, not the stupid glove stunt.

Answer 4

An informant could be grandma jones to a criminal actively involved in whatever crime is being investigated. It is also a way that defendants give up others involved in crime rings. It could also be drug addicts who turn on their dealers.
This "Stop snitching" campaign you are talking about is headed up by thugs who would like to continue thier criminal activities without being caught, and see informants as a threat to their success.
Anyone can provide anonymous information through different forms, calling into police, calling crime stoppers, to being a paid informant.
No matter how the information is provided it does require the information to be corroborated by police. A witness is someone willing to testify about what they know or have witnessed in a court proceeding.
An informant more often than not fears reprecussions for assisting police. Witnesses on the other hand have testicular fortitude and are willing to stand up against criminal suspects in court.

Answer 5

Honestly there is a fine line there. People this only my opinion.

Snitching is the dark side of the witness. You are always telling something and you are almost always asked for info on the who, what, when, where, how, and why. You also may do additional leg work even if you don't know anything about the question you were asked.

Witness is just a random person who saw a particular incident and telling your version of the story. This person is mostly likely not going to be called or see information for the next incident that occurs.

Answer 6

A witness and snitch (otherwise known as an informant) pretty much are the same thing. A witness is someone who witnesses a wrong doing and reports it to the proper authorities. A snitch (informant) does the same, except they hope to obtain something for themselves in return, i.e., "I have this charge...", money, ect...

Answer 7

I think the difference is a snitch tells what he knows, usually just enough to arrest someone, under condition of anonymity, usually for money, and not having to testify in court, whereas a witness comes forward of his/her own free will, and does testify in court.

Answer 8

a snitch is usually a friend of the person in trouble and decides to run to the police and tell on his/her friend. a

witness is a person that is not a friend but jus saw wat happened and wanted justice or what ever.

So if one of ur friends did something bad (theft or something) and you told on them u would be considered a snitch (technically u r a witness but by all except the cop u are a scitch)
But if you saw something u would be considered a witness.
I think that u shouldnt tell on ur friends unless they murder someone.

u would also be considered a snitch if you were right along wit them and committed the crime but you decided to go wit a plea agreement and you had to be a "witness" (snitch) at their trial against them.

Answer 9

A snitch is a person who provides information that others act upon. The information may or may not be completely true and there are no penalties for telling a lie or leaving something out. A snitch provides hints and clues as well as partial information that must be confirmed by others research and evidence.

A witness is a person who provides direct testimony from first-hand experience. There are usually legal penalties (perjury) for not telling the truth. They may file a report which is punishable by false reporting crime if they lie. They may be prosecuted for perjury if they testify falsely under oath in court or by deposition.

Answer 10

A snitch doesnt help the problem....they can complicate matters......almost like a double agent or worse someone who doesnt really care about the out come for either party........they may well be part of the problem....& snitch cause the know they will gain something from the conflict at hand.....

A witness, like the person who has "beared wittness" only does so to receive peace of mind

Answer 11

Snitch is someone who was involved in whatever illegal action that was taking place and usually gets scared of whatevers going on and "snitches" or tells on the others. A witness is someone who sees a crime happen and goes to the cops or someone and tells.