Can You Be Charged for Knowing About a Crime and Not Saying Anything?

If you witness a crime, are you obligated to report it to the police? What if you are aware that a crime is going to be committed, but you do nothing to prevent it from occurring? Can you be criminally charged if you do nothing at all?

Many people are unaware of their legal obligation when it comes to reporting criminal activity. Some don’t want to get involved for fear of becoming a victim themselves. There is always the possibility that you risk harm to yourself or a third party if you divulge information about a crime you suspect has already been committed, or know of before it happens.

Others may feel they have a moral obligation to respond as a Good Samaritan and expose criminals for their wrongdoing. However, there is a big difference between a feeling of ethical responsibility and a legal duty to act.

Generally speaking, most people are under no legal obligation to report a crime, whether they knew about it in advance, witnessed its commission, or found out about it after the fact. However, there are exceptions to this law that you ought to know about.

Let’s take a brief look at some examples of when you can be held liable for having knowledge of a crime…

Aiding and Abetting a Crime (Penal Code section 31)

In California, you can be charged with the crime that was committed if you aided or abetted in its commission, but did not actually commit the crime yourself. Penal Code section 31 describes the phrase “aiding and abetting” as meaning that you assisted another person to commit a crime. Prosecutors can charge you as an aider and abettor whenever you:

• Know the perpetrator’s illegal plan,
• Intentionally encourage and/or facilitate that plan, and
• Aid, promote, or instigate in the crime’s commission.

You don’t have to be actually present at the scene of the crime to be charged under what is known as “accomplice liability.” If you willfully participated in the planning of a crime prior to its commission, you can be held criminally liable as an “accessory before the fact.”

If you take a passive role during a crime in progress, such as acting as a lookout or disabling a security device, you can be prosecuted as a perpetrator in the second degree (an accomplice).

Finally, if you help to conceal a crime already committed (hiding stolen money or weapons used in the crime’s commission, for example), or give assistance to perpetrators of crime to help them avoid detection, arrest or prosecution, you can be charged as an “accessory after the fact.”

In these situations, you are culpable under the accomplice liability theory because you knew of the illegal plan and willfully did something to cause it to be carried out or concealed.

California Mandatory Reporting Laws (California Penal Code sections 11164-11174.3)

Some people have a legal duty to report suspected or actual cases of child abuse or neglect under California’s Mandatory Reporting Laws (Penal Code sections 11164-11173.4). A mandatory reporter does not have to actually witness a child being abused or neglected. Rather, a “reasonable suspicion” from other sources that child abuse or neglect has occurred is enough to trigger this responsibility.

Mandatory reporters are defined under Penal Code section 11165.7, and include over 40 different professionals, such as:

• Teachers;
• School administrators;
• Administrators of youth centers and activities;
• Medical care professionals (doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, etc.);
• Law enforcement officers;
• Social workers;
• Clergy members, outside of a “penitential communication” (confession);
• Firefighters;
• Therapists; and
• Computer technicians.

California law broadly covers instances of child abuse and neglect, including but not limited to:

• Any sexual abuse of a minor, no matter how slight, whether over or under the clothes;
• Sexual exploitation;
• Child endangerment;
• Physical injury, such as:
  • Hitting;
  • Kicking;
  • Throwing harmful objects or substances; and
  • Pulling hair;
• Verbal abuse; 
• Failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical attention and education; and
• Emotional abuse or neglect.

A mandatory reporter must file a complaint of suspected or actual child abuse or neglect with an appropriate law enforcement or child support services agency within 36 hours of discovery. Failure to fulfill this legal duty to report, or impeding someone from doing so is a crime in itself and may be charged as a misdemeanor.

If you are convicted of failure to fulfill a legal duty as a mandatory reporter, you can be fined up to $1,000 and/or sentenced to serve up to six months in jail. If you willfully prevent someone from filing a mandatory report, you can be punished by a maximum $5,000 fine, a one-year jail sentence, or both.

Failure to Report a Crime under Federal Law (18 U.S.C. section 4)

Federal law prohibits concealing information about specific crimes. Under 18 United States Code, Section 4, you may be obligated to report a crime if you are directly asked during a criminal investigation whenever:

• You have knowledge of the commission of a felony;
• The felony actually occurred; and
• The felony is a federal offense;

If you willfully conceal the commission of a felony federal offense, you can be charged with “misprision of a felony.” Misprision of a felony is a form of obstruction of justice. If you are convicted, you face up to a $250,000 fine, imprisonment up to three years, or both fine and imprisonment.

Can You Report a Crime Anonymously?

Privately-operated, anonymous toll-free hotlines and website portals are available to “tipsters” where you may safely report a crime without revealing your identity. Many law enforcement agencies allow you to anonymously report a crime online as well. However, if you call 911 emergency response, be advised that law enforcement agencies may be able to track your phone number.

Additionally, California law requires mandatory reports of child abuse or neglect to remain confidential. A government agency receiving a report from a mandatory reporter may not divulge the source of a confidentially submitted report of suspected or actual child abuse or neglect to a reporter’s employer without the reporter’s prior consent.

Contact Wallin & Klarich Today if You are Arrested for Failing to Report a Crime

If you have been arrested for failing to provide information about a crime or becoming an accessory to a crime, you need to speak with one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich today. You could be facing serious state or federal charges if you had a mandatory duty to report unlawful activity or you obstructed a criminal investigation.

Our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have over 40 years of experience successfully defending our clients facing criminal charges as a result of failing to report a crime. We can help you avoid fines and/or imprisonment by conducting a thorough investigation of the facts. If you had no legal obligation to act, we may be able to persuade the prosecutor to dismiss the charges against you.

With offices in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Tustin, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, Wallin & Klarich is conveniently located near you to make certain you receive the very best legal representation throughout your criminal proceedings. We will help you to receive the most favorable outcome in your case.

Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free telephone consultation. We will get through this together.