Home > Research Legal Advice > Criminal Defense > Am I required to report a potential crime that I heard about secondhand?...
Asked 4 months ago - Cary, IL
FlagIf someone told me about a potential crime that they think they saw another person commit, but they are not even 100% sure it was a crime, do I have to report it legally to anyone? I feel I am being bullied into telling someone what I saw, but if I am not even 100% sure of what my friend saw, I do not feel right reporting it. I am a contractor, not employee, of the place that sponsored the activity where my friend thinks she saw a law being broken, but she is not even 100% sure. I am being bullied into giving names of a person who potentially broke the law by this employer. Again, I am a contractor for them , not employee, in Illinois. Please help. I don't want to ruin someone's character, either. But I also don't want them to get away with committing a crime.
You seem to be describing hearsay within hearsay. First, you have no obligation to report on what you have heard might have happened. This would not preclude you from choosing to cooperate with an investigation if asked, but you are not under any obligation to do so. How can you be bullied to say something you say you did not see, but were rather only told somebody else saw?
It sounds like you are being asked to speculate and by your own admission, you did not see anything. My best advice would be to say nothing as it seems you are uncomfortable and are being dragged into somebody else's issue.
Good luck and keep a calm perspective.
Don't speak legalese? We define thousands of terms in plain English.
Browse our legal dictionary
