Would you take money if paid to be a witness in court?

1. 93

   sangreposted 9 years ago

   Would you take money if paid to be a witness in court?
   
   If you were a witness to a crime and the district attorney said they would pay you for your testimony would you take the money or would you refuse it.

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   JThomp42posted 9 years ago

   This would seem to be illegal. Im not an attorney.. but the state cannot do this unless you are charged with a crime yourself... then maybe you could get a reduced sentence or they may agree not to prosecute you for your cooperation.

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      sangreposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi JThomp42, good point. I think these days anything can happen in courts and who knows what the sentence could end up being.

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   sheilamyersposted 9 years ago

   As far as I know it's illegal in all 50 states to be paid to be a witness and any offer of payment is viewed as a bribe. But let's pretend it's legal. I wouldn't take the money. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was only saying something because I was paid to say it. Also, when people get paid to give any kind of statement, they're more tempted to say what they think the person paying wants them to say or not say anything if that's what they think the person would want. If someone wants me to serve as a witness, I'm doing it for free and stating everything I know are facts. Whether those facts help the prosecutor or the defense lawyer isn't up to me. The truth as I saw something is the truth I'm going to relay.

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      sangreposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I think it's a good think it is illegal. I think you would have loads of people saying anything in court so they would end up getting cash. Plus as you mention, it's really all about you being honest and stating what you saw.

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   The Examiner-1posted 9 years ago

   Under law, you have to show up in court whether you are paid or not. As Sheila said it is probably a bribe to be offered money and the person doing it could probably be put in jail - or at least pay a fine.

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   1. 93

      sangreposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, that's very true. They are also very good deterrents that can stop people lying in court.

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      The Examiner-1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes that is another factor about truth and lies.

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