Code of silence

A Code of Silence is when someone, usually with some sort of authority of power, but not always, witnesses or is privy to the knowledge of an illegal or heinous act, but puts comradery, or loyalty to the "unit" (which can be police, military, gangs, among other things) above informing the public, or proper authorities.

The code of silence is usually either kept because of threat of force, or danger to oneself, or being branded a traitor or an outcast within within the unit or organizaton. The Code of Silence was famously practiced in Massachusettscities such as Charlestown, Southie, and Somerville.

Another well-known example is omerta(Italian: omertà, from the Latin: humilitas=humility or modesty), the Mafiacode of silence.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code+of+silence Wikipedia article Code of silence.