We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

In Law, what is an Approver?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 13,301
Share

An approver is someone who is involved with a crime, but who confesses and offers to serve as a witness for the prosecution. In exchange for the confession and testimony, the approver is given a pardon for his or her role in the crime. Allowing people to confess in exchange for concessions such as a pardon encourages people with information about crimes they were involved in to come forward, facilitating law enforcement investigations and increasing the likelihood that a case can be successfully prosecuted and brought to a close.

Technically, an approver is an accomplice. She or he did not commit the crime, but was involved in the planning, execution, or coverup of the crime. The accomplice may have known that the crime was going to happen and not taken any steps to prevent it, or may have engaged in other activities which were designed to make the crime easier to commit or less likely to be detected. This gives the approver a rather unique insight on the crime, as he or she was directly involved.

An approver can approach the police with information at any point during a criminal investigation. In justice systems where people who confess are not automatically granted pardons for fingering others involved in the crime, however, it is usually beneficial to come forward as early as possible. Providing information at the early stages of the investigation makes the process easier for investigators, improves the chances of collecting material evidence which might otherwise be destroyed, and suggests to the court that the approver experienced genuine contrition about the crime.

After the approver has provided information and it is deemed valuable, an agreement will be made in which the approver testifies in court about the crime and he or she is granted a pardon in exchange. This means that the approver cannot be prosecuted for involvement in the crime. In some regions, this is controversial, as victims of a crime or their survivors may argue that the accomplice should be penalized as well.

Someone who wants to come forward about a crime should consult a lawyer. The lawyer can help to negotiate a surrender deal with law enforcement and can provide advice and information which can be used to reach a favorable agreement. Criminal lawyers with experience in these types of matters are usually the best choice for representation for someone who intends to confess and name accomplices in an attempt to get a pardon or reduced sentence.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Misscoco — On Sep 23, 2011

@Bonij - I disagree somewhat. If the legal system doesn't offer a pardon when the approver steps forward and confesses his part in the crime and agrees to testify, it might be difficult and time consuming to prosecute the person who committed the serious crime.

I don't know how many accomplices would come forward if they thought they would have to go to jail for even a short period of time.

It's one of those points of law that is "iffy", it's hard to know what is best. Our legal system isn't perfect.

By BoniJ — On Sep 22, 2011

I'm not so sure I agree with the policy of granting a pardon to an approver for confessing to their part in a crime in exchange for their testimony in court.

If the approver just had a very minor part in the crime, like some knowledge of the crime in the planning stages - maybe a pardon would be the right thing to do.

But if they had a larger part - like being there and taking some action in the crime - say murder, they should get a lesser sentence if they testify.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/in-law-what-is-an-approver.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.