Court may compel testimony, witness immunity, exception, when, penalty
A judge can order someone to testify in court even if that person wants to stay silent to avoid getting themselves in trouble. If the person testifies under that order, they cannot later be charged for the crimes they talked about — but they can still get in trouble for lying or refusing to cooperate. If a person refuses to testify even after the judge orders them to, they can be locked up in the county jail for up to 12 months until they comply or the trial ends.
491.205. Court may , , , when, . — 1. In the case of any individual who has been or may be called to or provide other at any to or before a or or of the state of Missouri, the judge of the circuit in which the proceeding is or may be held may , in accordance with 2 of this section, upon the written request of the an requiring such individual to give testimony or provide other information which the individual refuses to give or provide on the basis of the individual's . When such an order is issued, the may not refuse to comply with the order on the basis of the witness's privilege against self-incrimination, but after complying with the order and giving the testimony or producing the compelled by the order, no such person shall be criminally or subjected to any criminal penalty for or on account of any act, , matter or thing which is the subject matter of the inquiry in which the person testifies or produces evidence, except a for , giving a false or misleading statement or in ing or failing to answer, or in producing or failing to produce evidence in accordance with the order.
2. A prosecuting attorney may be granted an order compelling a witness to testify and produce evidence upon the approval of a for witness immunity heard by a judge of the . The judge the for witness immunity may not preside over a grand jury proceeding where such testimony is given, and may not hear the subsequent criminal trial or any for which the applies. Such application shall offer that:
(1) Such individual has refused or is likely to refuse to testify or provide other information on the basis of the individual's privilege against self-incrimination; and either:
(2) The testimony or other information to be provided by such individual is necessary to the investigation or prosecution and is otherwise unobtainable; or
(3) The testimony or other information to be provided by such individual is necessary for the to prove a 's guilt .
3. If a person refuses to testify on the basis of such person's privilege against self-incrimination after being given an order to testify under this section or produce evidence or other information, such person shall be in contempt and committed to the county jail until such time as the person purges himself or herself of this contempt by testifying or producing evidence and information as ordered, or the trial for which the person's testimony was requested has concluded. In no event shall the length of exceed twelve months.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1997 H.B. 339)
Related Missouri laws
Penalty for refusing to testify
RSMo 491.200
Witness not excused from testifying, when
RSMo 491.210
Fine for nonattendance
RSMo 491.190
Witness, when free from arrest
RSMo 491.220
Penalty where party refuses to attend and testify
RSMo 491.180
Power to issue writ of habeas corpus
RSMo 491.230
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.