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The U.S. Marshals Service provides for the security, health and safety of government witnesses, and their immediate dependents, whose lives are in danger as a result of their testimony against drug traffickers, terrorists, organized crime members and other major criminals. The Witness Security Program was authorized by the Organized Crime ...
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.
- 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.
2024. The U.S. Marshals Service operates the federal Witness Security Program, sometimes referred to as the “Witness Protection Program.” 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.
The entire purpose of the witness protection program is to keep the witnesses safe so that they can testify at trials that could convict members of organized crime, gangs or terrorist networks. Perhaps the riskiest part of the process is when the witness returns to testify.
- 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.
2021. The U.S. Marshals Service operates the federal Witness Security Program, sometimes referred to as the “Witness Protection Program.” 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.
2023 Witness Security. 2023-Witness-Security.pdf (138.03 KB) The U.S. Marshals Service operates the federal Witness Security Program, sometimes referred to as. the "Witness Protection Program". This Factsheet is an overview about the program.
