Court witnesses offending others, initially (3)
I believe the answer is:
woo
'court' is the definition.
('woo' can be a synonym of 'court')
'witnesses offending others initially' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'witnesses offending others' is 'WOO'.
(Other definitions for woo that I've seen before include "Pay court to" , "Try to get the girl?" , "Court; importune" , "Do courting" , "Try to attract" .)