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How Long Can a Material Witness Be Held?

Emily Yoffe
Posted Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001, at 5:54 PM ET

Explainer should be held without bond for giving misleading information on how long a material witness can be detained. Previously, Explainer wrote, "Law enforcement officials can detain [a material witness] for a few hours without filing charges, but holding someone in custody for a long period requires formal charges."

It turns out, according to this section of the U.S. Code, that a material witness can be held as long as it is necessary to "prevent a failure of justice." This means that the people being brought in for questioning in the terrorist attack under material witness warrants can be held as long as a judge deems it necessary. One reason to hold material witnesses is that they are considered likely to flee the country. People being held as material witnesses have information important to a criminal proceeding and can be required to reveal that information. But they are not themselves charged with a crime and should be released once the proceeding is finished. If, however, a material witness becomes a suspect in the case, he can't be forced to testify against himself in violation of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Next question?

Explainer, this time, thanks Carol Steiker of Harvard Law School.

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Emily Yoffe is the author of What the Dog Did: Tales From a Formerly Reluctant Dog Owner. You can send your Human Guinea Pig suggestions or comments to .
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