To think the majority of people would cover up the crimes of their loved ones

[NEVERQUIT3331]

I had a discussion with a friend about what someone would do if they found out someone they loved dearly e.g. children, partner etc would do if they found out they committed a heinous crime that could land them in jail for a very long time (e.g. burglary, rape, murder) etc..

And I said that I feel a lot of people would acknowledge these crimes are heinous but if it actually happened to them they would probably most likely if they could cover it up and ensure their loved one e.g. child does not do time.

Do you think this will happen in most cases?

It massively depends on the circumstances surely? I'd be more likely to help cover up a crime I felt was in some way justified than one that went against my personal moral code, which I imagine is true for most people.

I think there's an inverse relationship between the scale of the wrongdoing and your feelings for the criminal, which would dictate the likelihood of covering up for them.

If DS committed a rape or murder I absolutely would not cover it up. I would not stop loving him but I would not cover it up. And I would judge anyone who did.

Really depends on the crime.

I'd be unlikely to cover up for anyone for a serious crime - but I don't tend to hang out (knowingly) with burglars and rapists etc - obviously if I'd grown up in a crime family things might be different.
It seems like a lot of the time people who try to "help" their loved one get found out anyway.

I think it depends on the crime. I’d be far more forgiving of a financial crime than one concerning violence/ sexual violence.

No way, if someone close to me had committed a crime like that then they need to pay for their crime, regardless of my feelings.

Rape or murder? No

Massively depends on the crime, but I certainly wouldn't cover up for any of the ones you've mentioned.

Rape absolutely not

Crimes of passion, financial ones, even murder when it was impulsive and accidental ...probably

If DD killed someone by bad driving or started doing burglaries I'd turn her in (not stop loving her) they are not victimless crimes.

I think what often happens is hugely unlikely stories about how it didn’t really happen that way are believed somewhat unquestioningly by parents/spouses so in their mind they don’t think they’re covering up a crime but are ensuring their loved one isn’t a victim of a miscarriage of justice. And they cling to that belief even when doubts creep in.

My dad is a convicted criminal. Not a chance would I cover up for him.

@Waxonwaxoff0

If DS committed a rape or murder I absolutely would not cover it up. I would not stop loving him but I would not cover it up. And I would judge anyone who did.

Same

I’ve wondered why people do do this - I guess they’re the ones that get charged with assisting an offender - and there seem to be a lot of them . I came to the conclusion that they were probably acting out of fear . Either fear of the person responsible or fear of their way of life being torn apart .

Rape or anything along those lines? No
Fraud etc sure

Depends on the crime I think and the circumstances surrounding it.
Rape no can’t think of any mitigation there.
Child abuse either.

Non violent crimes, maybe, but rape, murder or anything involving kids. No fucking way.

@ NumberTheory yes 100 percent that. Relatives just start telling themselves lies as a coping mechanism.

Absolutely no way would I cover up for anybody (apart from the smallest crime)

I don’t think I could, because then I would also be committing a crime. I’m just too risk averse

Rape, murder or child abuse I would not cover for anyone at all.

I think it really would depend on the crime tbh. I think I'd also be more likely to not take active steps to report them than I would actually going as far as giving them an alibi etc.

But crimes like rape, murder or child/animal abuse then I would definitely hand them in.

Things like rape or murder, no. I wouldn’t stop loving that person though.

Something like benefit fraud or shoplifting, no I wouldn’t say anything. Most of the time those crimes are done out of desperation anyway.

Everyone says they would immediately turn in a loved one, no hesitation.

In practice, they would not. This is demonstrated time and time again in the cases of abuse within families.

What people would like to think they would do in an intensely distressing scenario is rarely borne out by action. This isn't a criticism, it's just human nature.