Baltimore Officials Battle Witness Intimidation

By Jennifer Ludden

Published January 15, 2005 at 12:00 AM EST

Rev. Iris Tucker of Baltimore is glad that lawmakers are thinking more about the problem of witness intimidation, but skeptical that any legislation can make her neighborhood feel safe.

A fire set at this house in Baltimore killed a family of seven in 2002, drawing national attention to the problem of witness intimidation. The city is now considering new steps to bolster the protection of witnesses.

Over the past decade, homicide rates have largely declined. But prosecutors say it's still hard to get convictions in murder cases, especially in urban areas. One part of the problem is getting reluctant witnesses to come forward. Their disappearance leaves criminal proceedings in limbo, and while some murder witnesses simply ignore court subpoenas, others are intimidated into skipping town, or worse -- are killed.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports on the efforts of an unusual homicide detective force in Baltimore, Maryland, to seek out no-show witnesses and combat intimidation.

Jennifer Ludden

Jennifer Ludden helps edit energy and environment stories for NPR's National Desk, working with NPR staffers and a team of public radio reporters across the country. They track the shift to clean energy, state and federal policy moves, and how people and communities are coping with the mounting impacts of climate change.

See stories by Jennifer Ludden

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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