I was told that it is public knowledge , that you can find out who “ratted” on you and whoever else was involved in a criminal case..Is this true?
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I was told that it is public knowledge , that you can find out who “ratted” on you and whoever else was involved in a criminal case..Is this true?
Asked on May 2, 2009 under Criminal Law, New York
Answers:
B. B., Member, New Jersey Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
The U.S. Constitution gives every criminal defendant the right to confront his accusers. With a few limited exceptions, such as child sex offenders and organized crime figures, most prosecution witnesses in criminal trials have to take the stand in public.
If several people participate in a crime, and one (or more) of them testifies in court against the others to get a lighter sentence, that deal has to be revealed to the other defendants.
Informants who don't testify don't always have to be revealed, though. The law recognizes that the police need to be able to keep that confidential.
For the most part, police investigation files aren't subject to the open public records and right-to-know laws.
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