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WITSEC

Fallaces sunt rerum species

About Me

The 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 Control Act of 1970 and amended by the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984. The Marshals Service has protected, relocated and given new identities to 7,700 witnesses and 9,800 of their family members since the program began in 1971.The successful operation of this program is widely recognized as providing a unique and valuable tool in the government’s battle against major criminal conspirators and organized crime. Since the program’s inception, it has obtained an overall conviction rate of 89 percent as a result of protected witnesses’ testimonies.Witnesses and their families typically get new identities with authentic documentation. Housing, medical care, job training and employment can also be provided. Subsistence funding to cover basic living expenses is provided to the witnesses until they become self-sufficient in the relocation area.The Marshals Service provides 24-hour protection to all witnesses while they are in a high-threat environment — including pretrial conferences, trial testimonials and other court appearances.In both criminal and civil matters involving protected witnesses, the Marshals Service cooperates fully with local law enforcement and court authorities to bring witnesses to justice or to have them fulfill their legal responsibilities. A recidivism study found that less than 17 percent of protected witnesses with criminal histories are arrested and charged with crimes after joining the program.No program participant who follows security guidelines has ever been harmed while under the active protection of the Marshals Service.

My Interests

Heroes:



My Blog

Funny Commercial: Witness Protection

Funny commercial about the story of a man who feels how the witness protection program works after he testified against a maffia member. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-J7r0nVyqw...
Posted by WITSEC on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:51:00 PST

Reasons Why a Missing Person May Remain Missing

They may have died in an accident, disaster or other tragic occurrence in which they were not properly found or identified upon their death.They may be out of the country and are not registered with t...
Posted by WITSEC on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:10:00 PST

How We Really Hide Witnesses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwMlAP0kC5M
Posted by WITSEC on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:48:00 PST

Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

ESPINA:Just searching for info. on Witness Protection. If someone knew they were entering the Witness Protection Program, would they be allowed to let their parents know that they were leaving for a l...
Posted by WITSEC on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:19:00 PST

U.S. Marshals Official Accused of Misspending Security Funds

By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY Updated 3/1/2007 10:58 PM ET   WASHINGTON  A U.S. Marshals Service official misspent $4.3 million meant for courthouse security and witness protection to pay for fitnes...
Posted by WITSEC on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 05:34:00 PST

Witness Protection Child Custody Questions

Expert: Maxwell CaulfieldDate: 8/4/2006Subject: clarification on a witsec answerQuestionI was reading an answer you had given someone about what happens in witsec and I was wondering if you could clar...
Posted by WITSEC on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:33:00 PST

One Way to Fight Crime: Better Witness Protection

One Way to Fight Crime--Better Witness Protection Submitted by Gaetano P. on Fri, 12/08/2006 - 2:17pm. Eric Hayes, who was 17 years old when he was shot in the head, was clearly one of the bravest ...
Posted by WITSEC on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:35:00 PST

Witness Protection: A World of Closely Held Secrets

By MARK SHERMANAssociated Press WriterWASHINGTON (AP) - An old mobster once gave Joseph Paonessa some advice that, if a bit chilling, has served him well during his many years working in the federal w...
Posted by WITSEC on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:59:00 PST

Scandal Rocks the Witness Protection Program

Be sure to watch for news of publication of "Betrayed: Outlaw Bikers, Rogue US Marshals, a Failed Witness Protection Program, and Jane Doe, Who Survived it All." by Marcia Mitchell. "He told...
Posted by WITSEC on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 03:02:00 PST

Who's a Rat.com

Interesting website, and frankly I'm a little amazed that it hasn't been yanked yet, especially considering its purpose. Attention law enforcement personnel: Just in case you aren't aware of this...
Posted by WITSEC on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:27:00 PST