Victim Arrested - to aid in prosecution

[RicInOR]

Seems like a WTF story out of Cowlitz County WA-

Rape Victim Arrested to Help Prove She Was Raped, Kidnapped

"he 43-year-old woman — the victim and prime witness in the case — has not been charged with any crime. She just wasn't showing up for pre-trial meetings with prosecutors, despite promising to do so several times. So earlier this month they obtained a judge's order for a material witness warrant. It's a little-used procedure under state law that allows police to arrest a witness of a crime to ensure they show up for court. Chief Criminal Deputy James Smith said such warrants are rare and requested only "as a last resort.""

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[gaijinsamurai]

I'm familiar with such occurences, and have mixed feelings it.

 

[Redcap]

Good way to make someone entirely uncooperative.

 

[gaijinsamurai]

I don't like the principle of the government having the ability to arrest people who have not committed a crime, but it is hard to feel sorry for the victim when she has repeatedly failed to show for pre-trial meetings, thereby wasting the prosecutor's time and taxpayers' money.