Do Witness Protection Programs Really Protect?
scorpionchik
Posts: 2,669
Listen to the Story
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History
In the United States, the Witness Protection Program' (also known as the Witness Security Program, or WITSEC) was established under Title V of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, which in turn sets out the manner in which the United States Attorney General may provide for the relocation and protection of a witness or potential witness of the federal or state government in an official proceeding concerning organized crime or other serious offenses. See 18 U.S.C.A 3521 et. seq.
The Federal Government also gives grants to the states to enable them to provide similar services. The federal program is called WITSEC (the Federal Witness Protection Program) and was founded in the late 1960s by Gerald Shur when he was in the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section of the United States Department of Justice. Most witnesses are protected by the United States Marshals Service, while protection of incarcerated witnesses is the duty of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Procedures
Usually the witness is relocated and given a new name. Witnesses are encouraged to keep their first names and choose last names with the same initial in order to make it easier to instinctively use the new identity. The U.S. Marshals Service provides new documentation, assists in finding housing and employment, and provides a stipend until the witness gets on his or her feet. This stipend can be eliminated if the U.S. Marshals Service feels that the witness is not making an aggressive effort to find a job. Witnesses are not allowed to travel back to their hometowns or contact unprotected family members or former associates. In order to prevent the possibility of the witness being followed, the witness is made to adhere to a convoluted and indirect transportation path before finally reaching the location where they will live under the new identity. This path often involves a long chain of seemingly random flights which are intended to be difficult for a potential adverse party to anticipate
<!-- m -->http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... d=14034143<!-- m -->
History
In the United States, the Witness Protection Program' (also known as the Witness Security Program, or WITSEC) was established under Title V of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, which in turn sets out the manner in which the United States Attorney General may provide for the relocation and protection of a witness or potential witness of the federal or state government in an official proceeding concerning organized crime or other serious offenses. See 18 U.S.C.A 3521 et. seq.
The Federal Government also gives grants to the states to enable them to provide similar services. The federal program is called WITSEC (the Federal Witness Protection Program) and was founded in the late 1960s by Gerald Shur when he was in the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section of the United States Department of Justice. Most witnesses are protected by the United States Marshals Service, while protection of incarcerated witnesses is the duty of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Procedures
Usually the witness is relocated and given a new name. Witnesses are encouraged to keep their first names and choose last names with the same initial in order to make it easier to instinctively use the new identity. The U.S. Marshals Service provides new documentation, assists in finding housing and employment, and provides a stipend until the witness gets on his or her feet. This stipend can be eliminated if the U.S. Marshals Service feels that the witness is not making an aggressive effort to find a job. Witnesses are not allowed to travel back to their hometowns or contact unprotected family members or former associates. In order to prevent the possibility of the witness being followed, the witness is made to adhere to a convoluted and indirect transportation path before finally reaching the location where they will live under the new identity. This path often involves a long chain of seemingly random flights which are intended to be difficult for a potential adverse party to anticipate
Comments
I can't see MJ in the WPP because his kids are out in the open, and he'd want to contact them, and it sounds like it's permanent. He could be with them though, if he's in disguise and hidden in plain sight.
"Since its inception in 1970, more than 7,500 witnesses and more than 9,500 witness family members have entered the program and have been protected, relocated and given new identities by the U.S. Marshals Service."
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Another source has similar figures:
"Since its inception, more than 6,700 witnesses have entered the program. And at the present time, approximately 20 to 25 witnesses a month are added."
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I don't see anything that talks about how many witnesses are killed before they can testify (no surprise there), but I'd say more successfully enter the program and live out their lives than not. If you're a candidate for going into the program, I think it's fair to say you'll take whatever odds you get.
Movies are always exaggerated to be attractive to watch.