Utah Kids Warned about Withholding Information from Police

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Utah kids are warned about withholding information from police no matter what the info will do to their reputation or friendships with other kids.

Protecting a friend may end in charges

Photo by: Jennifer Moo
Photo by: Jennifer Moo

Many youth will go to great lengths to protect their friends from getting into trouble. That often includes fabricating stories and withholding information from police. Regrettably, withholding information from police that is considered significant in an investigation may cause the protecting friend to face charges of obstruction of justice.

Obstruction of justice

Utah Code 76-8-306 states that someone is guilty of obstruction of justice if they “conceal[s] information that is not privileged and that concerns the offense [after a judge has ordered them to provide the information] or if they provide[s] false information regarding a suspect, a witness, the conduct constituting an offense, or any other material aspect of the investigation.” Depending on the case that is being affected by withholding information from police, obstruction of justice charges can range from a misdemeanor to a 2nd degree felony.

Protect juvenile record by cooperating with police

No friend is worth the repercussions of withholding information from police. If they were a decent friend, they wouldn’t have gotten those they care about caught in the crosshairs of their criminal activities. There are options out there for kids who want to cooperate with police privately though. For those youth not wanting to face charges for withholding information from police but also not wanting to be known as a snitch, it is possible to speak to police as a confidential informant. This option protects the informant from backlash that they might receive from peers about speaking up. For more information on minors withholding information from police or how to speak confidentially with law enforcement, contact a Utah juvenile criminal defense attorney.