NCJ Number
43933
Date Published
1976
Length
6 pages
Annotation
SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED ON HOW TO INHIBIT DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN TRIAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST TERRORISTS AND SPECIFICALLY DEALS WITH THE POLICE OFFICER'S ROLE AS A WITNESS.
Abstract
RECENT EXPERIENCES WITH ANARCHIST OFFENDERS ARE PRESENTED FROM A JUDGE'S POINT OF VIEW. FROM THE BEGINNING, THE ACCUSED CONSIDERS POLICE AND COURT MEMBERS AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 'RULING CLASS' AND REFUSES ANY KIND OF COOPERATION. FREQUENT PROBLEMS INCLUDE REFUSAL TO TESTIFY, AND HARRASSMENT OF WITNESSES. IN RESPONSE TO THESE REMARKS, A PANEL MADE SUGGESTIONS. IN THE FIRST PLACE, TERRORIST TRIALS, THE ACCUSED AND DEFENSE ATTORNEY FREQUENTLY TRY TO HARRASS WITNESSES IN ORDER TO PROVOKE IRRATIONAL RESPONSES WHICH DAMAGE THE WITNESSES' CREDIBILITY. POLICE OFFICERS ON THE WITNESS STAND ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO SUCH STRATEGIES BECAUSE THEY TEND TO CONSIDER THEMSELVES INFALLIBLE. POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE MORE INTENSLY PREPARED FOR THEIR ROLE IN TRIAL. IN PARTICULAR, TO OPENLY ADMIT IGNORANCE OF CERTAIN DETAILS STRENGTHENS AN OFFICER'S CREDIBILITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF LONG PAST OCCURRENCES. SECONDLY, IN POLITICAL TRIALS, WITNESSES ARE FREQUENTLY THREATENED AND INTIMIDATED IN AN EFFORT TO INFLUENCE THEIR TESTIMONY. AT OTHER TIMES, THE AUDIENCE ATTEMPTS TO CONFUSE WITNESSES THROUGH CONSTANT INTERRUPTIONS. IN SUCH CASES, THE LEGAL PROVISIONS TO PRESERVE COURTROOM ORDER AND TO PROTECT WITNESSES MUST BE RIGOROUSLY ENFOURCED. --IN GERMAN.(SAJ)