Do lawyers have a duty to report crime?

Answer 1

There is not a legal duty to report crimes witnessed. It is of good moral character to report crimes. If a person has witnessed a crime, and is asked by authorities reporting, honesty is an obligation.

Answer 2

For most people, there is no duty to report. There are exceptions. Some states require that a therapist report a dangerous patient. Many states require that people in charge of children report possible abuse. Unless there is a statute that requires a person in your position to report a crime, you have no duty to report it.

Answer 3

In principle, yes, you have a duty. However, use your common sense. A bored elderly neighbour made herself unpopular by reporting every car she thought was parked illegally. What's more, she was often mistaken about the legal position.

Answer 4

If it happened to you, that is the only way that justice is going to be served.

If you witnessed a crime occurring, or know of one that did, and chose not to report what you knew about it, you are failing in your ethical and moral duty to society as a whole and, if you practice one, quite possibly violating some tenets of your religion.

Answer 5

Yes there is a legal duty to report a murder because if you know something which may be useful and are not sharing this information with the police then you can be held responsible for it.

Answer 6

Yes, there are some cases where a person can be charged for not reporting a crime.

Answer 7

Yes or no