U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice


Victim and Witness Intimidation: New Developments and Emerging Responses by Kerry Murphy Healey

Intimidation of victims and witnesses undermines the functioning of the justice system by denying critical evidence to police and prosecutors. This long-standing problem also erodes confidence in the government's ability to protect citizens. Victim and witness intimidation has usually been associated with organized crime and domestic violence cases. But this form of intimidation is developing new characteristics as its occurrence increases in urban drug- and gang-related violent crime.

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U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice


Preventing Gangand Drug-Related Witness IntimidationResponses by Peter Finn and Kerry Murphy Healey

Many police officers and prosecutors have become increasingly frustrated by their inability to investigate and prosecute cases successfully when key witnesses refuse to provide critical evidence or to testify because they fear retaliation by the defendant or his family and friends. This problem is particularly acute, and apparently increasing, in gang- and drug-related criminal cases. Witnesses' refusal to cooperate with investigations and prosecutions should be a major concern: it adversely affects the justice system's functioning while simultaneously eroding public confidence in the government's ability to protect citizen

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