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What is witness protection?
What is the Witness Security program?
Who decides if a witness should be in the Witness Security program?
What is the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC)?
Learn how the U.S. Marshals Service protects witnesses and their families who testify against dangerous criminals. Find out the eligibility criteria, the process of creating new identities and the risks of breaking the rules of the program.
- Kevin Bonsor
- What does the witness protection program entail?The U.S. U.S. Marshals Service Witness Security Program (also known as WITSEC) protects witnesses and their dependents who are in danger because of...
- How much do people who are in witness protection get paid?Members of WITSEC get around $60,000, on average, to help them get jobs and start supporting themselves within a specified time frame.
- Is the witness protection program successful?Yes. According to the U.S. Marshalls Service, WITSEC has protected about 19,000 participants since the program began in 1971, including innocent vi...
- What happens after someone is put in witness protection?WITSEC members, along with their family and dependents, are issued new birth certificates and Social Security numbers. They receive help in finding...
- Can someone choose to leave witness protection?This is always an option. If, upon leaving, their lives are still in danger, U.S. Marshals can locate them again.
Learn how the U.S. Marshals Service protects witnesses and their families who testify against major criminals and terrorists. Find out the program criteria, benefits, and history of the Witness Security Program.
- The Witness Protection Program Used to Provide Plastic Surgery For Witnesses.
- Witsec Was Founded by Gerald Shur
- Thousands of People Have Been Moved as Part of The Witness Protection Program.
- There Were A Few Protected Witnesses Before Witsec Actually began.
- One Early Witsec Participant Was Joseph “The Animal” Barboza.
- The Fact That Valachi and Barboza Were Criminals Isn’T Unusual For Witsec.
- There Are Rules For Entering The Witness Protection Program.
- The First Thing That A Witness in The Program Will Experience Is Orientation.
- Witnesses Also Get A New Name—But Taking A New First Name Is Optional.
- Witnesses Get New Identifying documents.
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To enticemobster Aladena Fratianno to testify in the late 1970s, the program paid for his wife’s surgery, including breast implants and a facelift. One unnamed participant was given a psychologist-suggested penis surgery—not to disguise his identity, but because he was depressed and needed a self-esteem boost in order to testify. As of the late '90...
Shur worked for the Justice Department at the time; he was the head of the Witness Security Program for around 25 years and was instrumental in turning it into what it is today. He’s also how we know a lot of what we know about mysterious program—he co-wrote a book titled WITSEC: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program. Shur diedin 2020.
Between witnesses and their families, around 19,000 people have been moved thanks to the program. In 2012, the reported cost of keeping WITSEC running was about $10 million a year.
One of them was Joe Valachi, who was sort of an inspiration for the program. In 1963, Valachi turned in criminalshe knew from his participation in the Mafia in exchange for safety in prison. Government officials realized that offering protection was an effective way to convince criminals and witnesses to come forward, and they officially started WI...
Barboza, a murderer who testified against the mob in the late 1960s, was sent to California with a new identity. Unfortunately, he may have killed again. Eventually, he was shot, probably by the people he’d testified against.
According to Shur, about 95 percent of the witnesses in WITSEC are criminals in their own right. Around 10 to 20 percent of them will go on to re-offend. Because of that, it’s a risky and controversial program. But the Justice Department notes the upside: It claims that trials with witnesses in WITSEC testifying have an 89 percent conviction rate.
According to Shur, people hoping to enter witness protection have to sign a list of rules. One of the rules is a pledge to, in his words, "be a good person and live a normal life." And of course, they wouldn’t be put into WITSEC unless being a witness in their particular case would have to put them at risk.
There’s a WITSEC Safesite and Orientation Center in the Washington, D.C. area where six separate families can stay without coming into contact with each other. Family members go through medical, dental, and psychological exams. Each adult is also interviewed about their job skills so they can be placed in a new location with a job that makes sense....
Sometimes it’s easier for a person to keep their first name, so they always answer when they’re called and they don’t have to fully change their signature. They can choose their new last name, but it must be unrelated to their life—so no family members’ maiden names—and make sense ethnically.
They include things like birth certificates and driver’s licenses. Witnesses also receive new Social Security numbers and legalized name changes. Kids get school records copied in their new name—and though some parents wanted these records subtly improved, Shur refused. The program ensures that furnished houses, schools, and even religious institut...
Learn how the Witness Security Program (WITSEC) works, from its origins to its rules, from its successes to its controversies. Find out how witnesses get new identities, locations, and protection from the U.S. Marshals Service.
- Meredith Danko
The United States Federal Witness Protection Program (WPP), also known as the Witness Security Program or WITSEC, is a witness protection program codified through 18 U.S. Code § 3521 and administered by the United States Department of Justice.
Witnesses protected by the Witness Security Program generally testify against major criminal organizations and their members, such as traditional organized crime groups, gangs and terrorist organizations.
Feb 16, 2013 · Officially called the Witness Security Program, it provides protection for government witnesses who are at risk due to testimony they’ve given about terrorists or criminals.
The Witness Security Program protects witnesses and their families who testify against major criminal organizations and their members. It provides new identities, financial assistance, job training and 24-hour protection to participants who follow program guidelines.
