When a defendant contacts a witness for an upcoming trial, what offense has been committed?

When a defendant contacts a witness for an upcoming trial, the situation typically constitutes tampering with a witness. This is because tampering involves any action taken by a party to improperly influence a witness's testimony or to impede the witness's willingness to cooperate in the judicial process. Whether through persuasion or coercion, contacting a witness with the intent to affect their testimony or to gather information in a potentially illicit manner falls under this offense.

Tampering with a witness is a serious charge, as it undermines the integrity of the judicial system and can severely impact the pursuit of justice. The law recognizes that witnesses play a crucial role in trials, and any attempt by a defendant to interfere with a witness is viewed as an attempt to disrupt the legal process.

The other options relate to different aspects of legal offenses, but they do not precisely fit the scenario described. Witness intimidation specifically involves threats or coercive actions meant to scare a witness, while conspiracy to commit perjury would require an agreement to lie under oath. Obstruction of justice generally refers to actions that interfere broadly with the administration of justice, but it is less specific than witness tampering regarding direct interactions with a witness. Thus, the best characterization of the action taken by the defendant in this scenario is indeed tam