Can a victim be held in contempt of court if they refuse to testify?
If a witness cannot successfully invoke the spousal or Fifth Amendment privilege, they may be ordered by the trial court to answer the prosecutor’s questions. If the witness refuses to answer the questions provided by the prosecutor, the witness may then be found in contempt of court. This could possibly include jail time and fines. Contempt of court charges may also be filed against an alleged victim who deliberately dishonors a subpoena. Therefore, an alleged victim who chooses not to cooperate in the prosecution of an alleged abuser may become the target of punishment by the legal system. Such witnesses may want to retain their own attorney to assist them in such matters.
