Good Example Of What Can The Criminal Justice Professionals Do To Make Witnesses Talk? Essay

According to the College of Policing (2016), a witness is any individual other than the defendant who appears before a court of law to give their evidence in the case at hand. Victims in the court case are considered as witnesses and should be treated in the same manner. Success in many investigations is largely dependent on the accuracy of evidence obtained from witnesses. Credible witness evidence is, therefore, critical. However, witnesses can be reluctant in giving their statements. The aim of this essay is to find out measures that can be taken by professionals in Criminal Justice to have such witnesses recount their evidence.
The College of Policing (2016) defines reluctant witnesses as those individuals believed to have been at a scene of the crime but are not readily willing to give their evidence on what might have happened. Reluctance from these witnesses may be due to fear and intimidation of the suspect, negative perceptions of the police force and criminal justice procedures or skepticism about the process. Others are vulnerable such as minors or sexually assaulted individuals. Some witnesses can turn hostile. Their opposition to the investigative process, lifestyle, or close relationship with the suspected perpetrator can bring about their hostility. Hostile witnesses may end up giving police officers and the investigators false evidence or entirely refuse to give their statements.
It is prudent that Criminal Justice professionals come up with a strict set of measures that ensure witnesses give not only their statements but also give credible and trustworthy evidence. Witness protection is arguably one of the best measures these professionals can put set up to ensure witness cooperation, in particular for the intimidated and vulnerable individuals. Witness protection includes measures such as pro tem relocation, intensifying security at witnesses’ home address, keeping their identity anonymous and providing an alarm system at their house. Investigators should always record their interactions with hostile witnesses .
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