Crime & Law Enforcement Issues & Death Penalty/Negligence laws?

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Expert: - 8/31/2004


Question
Is it illegal not to come to the aid of a person in need?  For example: If you see somebody on the side of the road stuck under the car, and you keep driving,are you criminally liable. If so, what is the penalty?

Answer
Hello Theresa,

    It depends on the law in your state.  There are fifty states with fifty different sets of laws so what might be against the law in MY state might not be against your law in YOUR state. We don't have national laws in this country. My suggestion would be to call your local police station to find out the law in your state about this matter.

Crime & Law Enforcement Issues & Death Penalty

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

Please do NOT ask questions about potential jail sentences that you or your friends may receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer or a parole officer so questions about those subjects will be rejected. I am a police officer with 26 years experience. Can answer questions about crime, police procedure, investigations, criminal law, search and seizure, traffic offenses. Prefer not to answer questions on the death penalty. Please do not ask homework questions. Remember this. The law in every state is different so questions about laws that are specific to your state could be difficult to answer. I also cannot give you legal advice on what to do or not to do in court. I have worked with authors in the past and will be happy to review scenarios or plots with authors to check for believability or accuracy.

Experience

Police officer with 26 years experience. Ten years in patrol and sixteen years in the detective bureau investigating every type of crime including murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, missing persons, etc, etc. Also taught at the police academy in areas such as constitutional law, search and seizure, and lineups.

Education/Credentials
B.S. in Criminology from the University of Maryland.

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