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Speak Up! - View Question #339 |
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Question: What happens to a person in the witness protection program?
Answer: The Witness Security Program was created by the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. Since then, more than 7,000 witnesses and over 9,000 family members have entered the program and have been protected, relocated and given new identities.
The United States Marshals Service, a division of the US Department of Justice, provides for the security, health and safety of government witnesses and their immediate family whose lives are in danger because they are testifying in court against drug traffickers, terrorists, organized crime members and other major criminals.
To begin with, the United States Attorney General makes the final determination who qualifies for protection. After the witness agrees to enter the program, they and their family are immediately relocated to a different and more secure location selected by the Marshals Service, this is usually a different city in a different state. Witnesses and their families typically get new names and identities, with authentic documentation like Social Security cards and driver's licenses. Housing, medical care, job training and employment can also be provided. Money for living expenses is also provided to the witnesses until they become self-sufficient in the relocation area.
This information was taken from 'Witness Protection Program Factsheet' from the US Department of Justice US Marshals. More information is also available on the Witness Security Program from the US Marshals
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| Comments |
| 11 thru 15 of 20 comments |
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On 03/23/04
hannah from FL said:
I think that even if a relative is in the program, they should be able to give you a reply. If you are not sending it directly to the relative then you don't know where they live. They can just put a false address or something on there. They should be able to send you letters.
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On 03/12/04
Tracy from WI said:
Diane from VT- Diane I feel your pain. My son entered the program with his father. I may not have all the answers, but feel as though I can help you with the correct routes to take.
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On 03/03/04
Tim from NJ said:
If you believe your loved one to be in witsec then you have to write to the DOJ in washington,DC and send any formal requests to be forwarded to the person you need to contact .you must include the persons name soc security number date of birth and do not expect to get a reply other then if your relitive is in this program we will forward the letter to them ... so If you do not get your letter back youl know they have recieved it
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On 02/10/04
Diane from VT said:
My name is Diane, and my sister Donna and I have been trying to locate our mother who abandoned her 3 children living with her and a daughter already in a foster home.We had heard that she may have been placed in the Witness Protection program when we were younger.Her poor life was a shambles and she could no longer watch her children suffer the pain of her actions.We have been looking for a year now, she left in 1978 when I was 6 and I'm the youngest of 3 girls and 1 boy.We have had an investigator look for her in 2003 and came up with nothing.Her SS # no longer exsists, there is no more info
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On 01/17/04
salvee from IA said:
to M from IA said
everyone has a birth certificate, only the names are changed to protect the innocent. Been there, done that. There are 48 states in this country. I could use a lot of help myself
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