if the elders think a baptized witness has willingly disobeyed direction set forth in the bible, they will investigate. that investigation is called a "judicial committee". if the elders decide the person is 'guilty' and does not regret what they did, he or she might be "disfellowshipped". this means the person is no longer a member of the group. when that happens, no other jehovah's witnesses are allowed to talk to or interact with that person (except in some situations such as living or working together) unless the disfellowshipped person repents and is allowed back in. when such a person is allowed back in, they have been 'reinstated'.