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The U.S. Marshals Service protects and relocates witnesses and their families who testify against major criminals and terrorists. Learn about the program's history, guidelines, benefits and successes since 1971.
Witness protection is security provided to a threatened person providing testimonial evidence to the justice system, including defendants and other clients, before, during, and after trials, usually by police.
Learn how the U.S. Marshals Service protects witnesses and their families who testify against dangerous criminals. Find out the eligibility criteria, the process, the risks and the history of the Witness Security Program.
- Kevin Bonsor
- 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...
- Members of WITSEC get around $60,000, on average, to help them get jobs and start supporting themselves within a specified time frame.
- Yes. According to the U.S. Marshalls Service, WITSEC has protected about 19,000 participants since the program began in 1971, including innocent vi...
- WITSEC members, along with their family and dependents, are issued new birth certificates and Social Security numbers. They receive help in finding...
- This is always an option. If, upon leaving, their lives are still in danger, U.S. Marshals can locate them again.
- Meredith Danko
- The witness protection program used to provide plastic surgery for witnesses. To entice mobster Aladena Fratianno to testify in the late 1970s, the program paid for his wife’s surgery, including breast implants and a facelift.
- The Witness Protection Program is officially known as the Witness Security Program, or WITSEC. WITSEC is run not by the FBI, but by the U.S. Marshals Service.
- The Witness Protection Program began as a result of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. In part, the Act said that the government would protect witnesses.
- WITSEC was founded by Gerald Shur. 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.
The United States Federal Witness Protection Program (WPP), [1] also known as the Witness Security Program or WITSEC, [2] is a witness protection program codified through 18 U.S. Code § 3521 and administered by the United States Department of Justice.
Learn how the U.S. Marshals Service protects witnesses and their families who testify against major criminal organizations and their members. Find out the program's history, benefits, eligibility and vetting process.
Learn about the Witness Security Program, which provides protection and relocation for witnesses in official proceedings against organized crime or serious offenses. Find out how to apply for the program, what expenses are covered, and how to use or target federal prisoners for investigative purposes.
