Is someone with a felony conviction allowed to testify?
• A: A felony conviction doesn’t prevent a person from testifying as a witness.Depending on how long ago the conviction occurred, the witness could be confronted with it in front of the jury. This is called “impeachment.” The jury may think less of the witness’s testimony knowing that he’s got a criminal record. In many states, the judge can instruct the jury that they may consider the witness’s prior felony conviction in deciding how much credibility to give the witness’s testimony. If a witness lies and denies the existence of a prior felony conviction, he could be charged with perjury.
Related Questions
- If I am an out-of-state resident petitioning to have my civil rights restored by the Governor for a Virginia felony conviction, will I need to submit anything besides a complete application?
- What is the process to determine a voter’s status as it relates to a felony conviction?
- Does a felony conviction affect the right to vote in Florida?
