Turn state's evidence

Turn state's evidence

To turn state's evidence is when an accused or convicted criminal testifies as a witness for the state against his associates or accomplices. Turning state's evidence is occasionally a result of a change of heart or feelings of guilt, but more often is done in response to a generous offer from the prosecution, such as a reduced sentence or a favorable location for serving time. In particularly high-profile or dangerous cases such as Mafia trials, the witness may be offered immunity from prosecution even if he has committed serious crimes himself, up to and including murder. The state may also offer the witness a place in the witness protection program, giving them a new identity so they need not fear retaliation from their former accomplices.

In the United Kingdom, the term is to turn Queen's or King's Evidence.

A slang term for turning state's evidence is to "sing" and people who do so are sometimes called "canaries." Another colloquial usage is "snitching".

ee also

* Supergrass
* European Community competition law#Leniency policy
* Whistleblower


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • turn State's evidence — see under ↑evident • • • Main Entry: ↑state * * * turn state’s evidence legal american phrase to give evidence in a criminal trial against someone who is also involved in a crime with you, usually in order to receive a less severe punishment… …   Useful english dictionary

  • turn state's evidence — index confess Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 turn state s evidence …   Law dictionary

  • turn state's evidence — idi law turn state s evidence, to give evidence against one s accomplice or accomplices in a crime, usu. in exchange for a reduced sentence …   From formal English to slang

  • turn state's evidence — ► turn King s (or Queen s or US state s) evidence Law (of a criminal) give information in court against one s partners in order to receive a less severe punishment. Main Entry: ↑evidence …   English terms dictionary

  • To turn State's evidence — Evidence Ev i*dence, n. [F. [ e]vidence, L. Evidentia. See {Evident}.] 1. That which makes evident or manifest; that which furnishes, or tends to furnish, proof; any mode of proof; the ground of belief or judgement; as, the evidence of our… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • turn state's evidence — legal American to give evidence in a criminal trial against someone who is also involved in a crime with you, usually in order to receive a less severe punishment …   English dictionary

  • turn Queen's evidence — see under ↑evident • • • Main Entry: ↑queen * * * turn Queen’s evidence legal phrase if a criminal turns Queen’s evidence, they agree to give information to the police or to a court of law to help them to catch other criminals Thesaurus: giving… …   Useful english dictionary

  • turn King's evidence — see under ↑evident • • • Main Entry: ↑king * * * turn king s evidence Brit law used with the same meaning as turn queen s evidence when Britain is ruled by a king see QUEEN S EVIDENCE • • • Main Entry: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • State's evidence — Evidence Ev i*dence, n. [F. [ e]vidence, L. Evidentia. See {Evident}.] 1. That which makes evident or manifest; that which furnishes, or tends to furnish, proof; any mode of proof; the ground of belief or judgement; as, the evidence of our… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • state's evidence — Evidence Ev i*dence, n. [F. [ e]vidence, L. Evidentia. See {Evident}.] 1. That which makes evident or manifest; that which furnishes, or tends to furnish, proof; any mode of proof; the ground of belief or judgement; as, the evidence of our… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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