# Justice Manual § 9-23.212: Decision to Request Immunity—Conviction Prior to Compulsion

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.212

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-23.212
- **Heading:** Decision to Request Immunity—Conviction Prior to Compulsion
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-23.000 - Witness Immunity / Justice Manual § 9-23.212

## Text

It is preferable as a matter of policy to punish offenders for their criminal conduct prior to compelling them to testify. While this is not feasible in all cases, a successful prosecution of the witness, or obtaining a plea of guilty to at least some of the charges against the witness, will avoid or mitigate arguments of co-defendants made to the court or jury that the witness "cut a deal" with the government to avoid the witness's own conviction and punishment.

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-23.100 Witness Immunity—Generally](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.110 Statutory Authority to Compel Testimony](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.110.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.130 Approval by Assistant Attorney General to Compel Testimony](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.130.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.140 Authority to Initiate Immunity Requests](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.140.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.210 Decision to Request Immunity—The Public Interest](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.210.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.211 Decision to Request Immunity—Close-Family Exception](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.211.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.212 Decision to Request Immunity—Conviction Prior to Compulsion](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.212.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.214 Granting Immunity to Compel Testimony on Behalf of a Defendant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.214.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.250 Immunity for the Act of Producing Records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.250.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-23.400 Authorization to Prosecute after Compulsion](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.400.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-23.212. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.