NCJ Number
127427
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 14 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (Spring/Winter 1990) Pages: 123-131
Date Published
1990
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the Federal Witness Security Program (1978) designed to protect government witnesses and their families who are willing to testify against organized crime.
Abstract
It describes the process of program participation, which is voluntary, and the conditions of eligibility. Acceptance into the program is determined by the Office of Enforcement Operations at the Department of Justice. However, protection and maintenance of accepted participants and administration of the Witness Security Program is the responsibility of the United States Marshals Service. The program provides a new social experience for the witnesses consisting of their social death and subsequent rebirth as a new person with new identities, names, and pasts. Various support services are provided to help the client adjust to the new life. Of all the government strategies to combat serious criminality, this program has been the most successful. Abuses and injustices in the program were remedied by the passage of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984. 5 notes and 11 references (Author abstract modified)