Fear Factor | WBUR and NPR - On Point with Tom Ashbrook

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Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at 10:00 AM EST

Fear Factor

Witness intimidation in America is becoming a growing national crisis. In cities around the country, good citizens are witnessing crimes but not reporting them. Fearing retribution, even death, they are too afraid to testify.

In Baltimore, a 17-year-old who witnessed a gang murder and agreed to testify was shot in the back of the head a few days after a prosecutor read his name aloud in the courtroom.

He is not the only one who has paid the price for doing the right thing. The fear factor is making it hard for police, prosecutors, and judges to put criminals behind bars.

Tune in to hear about the new wave of witness intimidation and who’s paying the price.

Guests:

Julie Bykowicz, city courts reporter The Baltimore Sun

Patricia Jessamy, state attorney for Baltimore

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