Your friend has committed a crime which harmed another person. You now hear that an innocent individual has been accused and will be sentenced to punishment. You plead with your friend to give himself up. He adimanlty refuses, arguing that there is no reason for him to put himself on the line He reminds you of your promise.

Is your friend required to give himself up? Are you required to give your friend over to the authorities? Are you allowed to break your promise?

What do you think? What is the Torah position is on this? We'd love to hear from you...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rabbi Mitterhoff,

When you write 'he reminds you of your promise' I assume you mean you promised to keep it a secret.

It's a tricky one. my first thought is why did you agree to keep a crime a secret. It could get you into all sorts of trouble.

Morally, i would say the friend is required to give himself up, but if he is a person who deliberately (i know this wasn't said but i'm implying that he is) hurt someone else this argument won't mean moot to him.

Isn't there a halachic problem with giving someone over to the authorities? Is there a difference between volunteering the info and saying when you are questioned (by the authorities?)

(in true jewish style, i've answered your questions with more questions!)

What about a psychiatrist/psychologist who is obligated to keep "secrets" and is obligated to uphold confidentiality but when it involves the endangerment of another persons life the laws of confidentiality don't apply, right? What if, for arguments sake, you were that Psychiatrist and he told you this in confidence?