This may be the hardest decision any person accused of a federal crime has to make. In some ways, it is harder than deciding to plead guilty, because cooperating usually means pleading guilty and helping to convict other people who may be friends or even family members.

Some people who cooperate and become government witnesses can reduce their punishment that way. If you committed a crime, you know the government can prove you did, and you feel very badly about what you did, you may want to cooperate and reduce your sentence. But keep this in mind: You will have to tell the absolute truth to the police, federal prosecutors, and maybe a jury - even when it hurts people you may love or care about.

In rare cases, cooperation also can be dangerous. Think of the words we use for people who commit a crime, but then turn government witness: rat; snitch; turncoat; stool pigeon; informer. These are bad words because many people view cooperating with the government as a dirty choice. It is a dirty choice if someone falsely blames others for his own crime, or stretches the truth to cut his own sentence. That is one reason why it is so important to tell the absolute truth if you cooperate with the government.

The other reason why you must tell the absolute truth if you cooperate is that the government gets to back out of your deal and use your words against you if you lie. Then you are in a worse position than had you just gone to trial.

Talk with your lawyer many times and think very hard before deciding to cooperate with the government (or deciding not to). If you begin to cooperate, remember: there is no turning back. You must tell the whole truth and hope for the best.

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