How far would a family member/friend need to go before you call the cops on them?

[Mr Slugger]

Just kind of curious. If a family member did something wrong, or was doing something wrong at what point would you call the cops, if you'd call the cops. And if you were going to call the cops on them would you give them a chance on their own to give themselves up?

For me honestly I think the point for me is spousal/child abuse, murder, rape, armed robbery. Other than that I don't think I'd call the cops. I mean I don't really care about family members that sell drugs. I don't care about family member who have stolen things from their job, etc. Now of course doesn't mean that I will let these people in my house. But some things it's up to the cops to find. As far as giving them a chance to turn themselves in. I probably would. It would somewhat depend on the person because there's some family members I'd hate to be the snitch on, and while I would turn them it it would be much better if someone other than me turned them in.

[blas87]

My boyfriend's mother tapped all the phone lines and she had no qualms about calling the cops when she found out that bf and his brother were selling drugs.

I guess it really depends on the family or how much control the parents could have over the kids. My parents wouldn't have called the cops, they would have beaten my brother and I senseless and grounded us until the day we moved out, because that's way worse than jail and a criminal record, to me!

Although at the same time, my mom still beats herself up that she wasn't the one to rat out my great aunt for lying on her taxes and doing some really shady bookkeeping.

[bunnyboy]

Well don't have to worry much about this... but, I wish more people would do this. Recently up here in the Seattle Area we had a guy who shot 4 Officers in cold blood, and was on the run for two days before he was killed, now pretty much his whole family (aside from one of his aunts and uncles) is getting charged with Rendering Criminal Assistance... or as it used to be called, accomplice after the fact. And the couple is actually looked at as heroes by everyone but their family, because you know, they snitched that he might be going to their place.

For me, I'd draw the line at robbery/major theft, below that it's a meh, unless it actually affects me, then all bets are off. (of course I doubt my step-brother, dad or step-mom would be doing anything illegal anyways, and they're way over in Kansas so meh moot point.)

[jackfaire]

If they commit a direct harm crime.

This is any crime that you can say, Person A did Action X and it hurt Person B.

Indirect harm would be where you have a long drawn out string of Person A did Action X which caused Effect Y which triggerd Action C so on and so forth until you get to where the crime finally affects somebody.

My family is very careful not to let me smell any illegal activities.

[AdminAssistant]

If I had been caught with drugs as a kid, my parents would have delivered me to the jail themselves. And I would call the cops on a family member dealing drugs, hell, I've almost called in a friend's husband. I knew he sold pot, but I didn't know he was selling out of his house right in front of my friend's kid. While I was there. I just wound up leaving...and then my friend wondered why her house got broke into later? Well, fucking duh! A bunch of potheads wanted their money back. Sheesh.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I have told family members and friends that if they got into a car drunk in my presence, I would call the cops on them. I was not bluffing.

If you are going to harm an innocent person, I will take you down any way I have to. I don't care who you are.

Petty stuff? Don't care. Not interested in being close to scummy people, but not going to dirty myself over it.

Rape, molestation, etc, no. I would not call the cops. Because my family would be "dealing with the problem", if you know what I mean, and I would want the cops as far from the scene as possible.

[Tanasi]

My Dad told me when I was a teen ager that he didn't have a problem taking me out of the picture if I go (for lack of a better term) rogue. You know what I believed him. Back then parents believed the LEOs, teachers, virtually everyone before their own kids. In elementary school every step of the way to and from school was watched by someone and if I messed up a call was promptly placed to Mom.
Basically I told my kids the same thing and them knowing me believed me. I won't put up with much. Physically harming someone I'll try to stop them and then call the law, stealing regardless of the amount I'll call, dealing drugs pot or otherwise I'll call the law, using I'll call the law. Thing is I won't leave and then call the law I'll place the call and then stand there and wait for the LEOs and point the person(s) out.
When it comes to purposely committing felonies there is very very very rarely a good excuse for doing so.
Way back when I was an apartment dweller there was a dealer two doors down from me. The owner knew what they were doing but was too much of a pussy to throw him out. So I started writing down car descriptions, tag numbers, buyer discription, date and time. I turned this into the cops on a daily basis and I turned it into them infront of the dealer. I would say very loudly the guy in apt. 68 is dealing drugs. After a few weeks of this he threatened to shoot up my place. I told him go get his gun I'll get mine and we'll settle this right then and there, I wasn't afraid to die and I certainly wasn't afraid to kill him or his hangers-on. He got in his car and left and never returned. His Mom came over to clean out his apt. two days later and told me I scared him.
Now all that being said, unless someone is being reckless I don't sweat traffic stuff but I have called on drunks, distracted and reckless drivers.
I know LEOs that have ticketed their wifes, their mothers, their kids, other family members and yes even their bosses's wife.
Now that I read back on this I'm sounding very preachy and that's not my intention, this is something that I've put a lot of thought into and have decided to make a stand. I also don't have any truck with folks that cheat on their spouses or SOs.

[blas87]

I agree with Kink on the rape or abuse thing.

In fact, the perp better hope that the cops get to him before my dad, brother, friends and uncles do.

In fact, when my cousin was killed and her bf was still on the run, some anonymous fuck called the cops and told them that they'd better hurry and find him before any of my family did, because the boys in my family love to hunt.

No big surprise, he wasn't on the run for long.

[Slytovhand]

And I'm closer to Tanasi on this...

Ok, some things I'll let slide - such as some aspects of drugs. That being, if they chose to do it for themselves, and not include others in the possible harm scenario, then ok. IF they shot up, or smoked up, and went for a drive while heavily under the influence - bye bye!

Petty theft... I figure they'll get caught. Robbery.. they will get caught - with my help

Drunk driving? One offs, hmm - usually too late to find out. Regular - bye bye!

I am (or was - not sure now) a Justice of the Peace, which meant witnessing documents and the like. I annoyed a couple of people because I wouldn't put my name on them for various technicalities.