Police procedural question

[Alpo]

The spouse cannot be made to testify against the other spouse.

That seems to be true across the country. I used to hear about a wife could not be forced to testify against her husband, but then I started hearing about how the husband could not be forced to testify against the wife, so it apparently works in either direction.

But can they testify if they want to? Is it not just "cannot be forced", or is it "cannot testify"?

 

 

 

 

[Cactus Jack Calder]

Can not be Forced!

Don’t ask how I know.

 

CJ

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Yes, they can.

OLG 

[Buckshot Bear]

A police officer pulls over a speeding car.
The officer says, " I clocked you at 120 km. per hour, sir."
The driver says, "Gee, officer I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating."
Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: "Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control."
As the officer writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, "Can't you please keep your mouth shut for once?"
The wife smiles demurely and says, "You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did."
As the officer makes out the second ticket for the illegal radar detector unit, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, "Dammit, woman, can't you keep your mouth shut?"
The officer frowns and says, "And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an automatic $75 fine."
The driver says, "Yeah, well, you see officer, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket."
The wife says, "Now, dear, you know very well that you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving."
And as the police officer is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, "WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE SHUT THE #*** UP??"
The officer looks over at the woman and asks, "Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?"
To which she replies.... "Only when he's been drinking......"

[Utah Bob #35998]

https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/felony-offense/can-spouses-be-forced-testify-against-one-another