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Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not represent Thethe of�icial information position provided or policies in this of thepublication U.S. Department is for educational of Justice. purposes only and is not intended 2 2 55 2 2 393 19 ���.AE������R�������.��� to provide legal advice to any individual or entity. Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS I. The Scope of the Problem .....................................................................................7 A. What is intimidation? .............................................................................................7 Physical violence ...........................................................................................................7 Verbal and nonverbal communication .................................................................8 Threats implied by conduct ................................................................................... 11 Emotional manipulation ......................................................................................... 11 Legal intimidation ...................................................................................................... 13 B. Who is vulnerable to intimidation? ................................................................... 14 Victims of domestic violence ................................................................................. 14 Witnesses to organized-crime- or gang-related violence ......................... 14 ...................................................................................... 15 Immigrants .................................................................................................................... 15 ChildHuman and trafficking juvenile victimsvictims and witnesses ........................................................ 16 Victims and witnesses in institutional settings or insular communities ..... 16 Participants in the criminal justice system ..................................................... 18 C. Where does intimidation occur? ...................................................................19 D. When does intimidation occur? ....................................................................19 II. Preparing to Meet the Challenge: Training, Cross-training, and Collaboration Among Law Enforcement and Allied Professionals ....20 A. Training ........................................................................................................................20 B. Cross-training and collaboration ..................................................................22 III. Preventing Intimidation and Minimizing its Effects ..................25 A. Law enforcement practices ..............................................................................26 Community Oriented Policing .............................................................................. 26 Responding to the scene of the crime ............................................................... 27 Restraining orders/orders of protection ......................................................... 28 Assistance in obtaining medical treatment/shelter .................................... 29 Threat assessment and safety planning ........................................................... 29 B. Medical personnel/hospital practices .......................................................30 Security during medical treatment .................................................................... 30 Discharge planning .................................................................................................... 31 C. Victim advocate/witness protection practices .......................................31 Threat assessment and safety planning ........................................................... 32 Other forms of assistance for victims and witnesses .................................Æ 37 1 Æ Æ ÆNRFQ>P Æ Æ ÆNRFQ>P Æ WITNESS INTIMIDATION: MEETING THE CHALLENGE D. Prosecution practices ...........................................................................................37 Charging decisions ..................................................................................................... 38 Review of prior cases ............................................................................................... 38 Cautioning the defendant ....................................................................................... 38 Bail sets and bail conditions .................................................................................. 39 Vertical prosecution .................................................................................................. 40 Protective orders and sealed documents ......................................................... 41 Keeping the trial judge informed of any anticipated witness intimidation concerns ............................................................................. 42 Expedited criminal proceedings .......................................................................... 42 E. Institutional practices in jails/prisons ......................................................43 F. Judicial practices: Courthouse and courtroom security ...................45 G. Probation and parole practices ......................................................................48 IV. Recognizing, Detecting, and Investigating Intimidation .........49 A. Educating victims and witnesses about intimidation ........................49 B. Monitoring during the investigation............................................................51 C. Evidence gathering .................................................................................................52 V. Responding to Intimidation .............................................................................56 A. Witness protection .................................................................................................57 B. Informal resolution ...............................................................................................58 C. Motions to revoke/increase bail.....................................................................59 D. Criminal charges for witness intimidation crimes ..............................59 E. Response to intimidation during trial ........................................................60 F. Post-conviction intimidation ............................................................................61 VI. Trial Strategies for Cases Involving Intimidation ..........................63 A. Early preservation of witness testimony ...................................................63 B. Pretrial motions and hearings ........................................................................64 C. Retaining an expert ................................................................................................65 D. Motions to admit evidence under forfeiture by wrongdoing ....................67 E. Voir dire ........................................................................................................................68 F. Opening statement ..................................................................................................69 G. Trial testimony .........................................................................................................69 H. Summation .................................................................................................................70 I. Jury instructions .......................................................................................................71 J. Verdict .............................................................................................................................72 K. Sentencing...................................................................................................................72 L. Post-conviction proceedings .............................................................................72 VII. ÆConclusion .................................................................................................................73 Æ 2 Æ ÆNRFQ>P Æ Æ ÆNRFQ>P Æ WITNESS INTIMIDATION: MEETING THE CHALLENGE Witness Intimidation: Meeting the Challenge Teresa M. Garvey, JD1 Witness intimidation can hinder the investigation and prosecution of any criminal case, but it presents predictable challenges in certain cat- egories of crime.2 Where the defendant has a pre-existing relationship with the victim, or in cases involving gangs or organized crime, the de- fendant often has the ability, directly or indirectly, to continue to in- after the precipitating criminal act. Victims of domestic violence are routinelyflict harm threatened upon, or to andexercise manipulated influence