Witness Protection

[Teresa Burrell]

I need help. I'm trying to find anyone who may be able to help me with information on The Witness Protection Program. I need it for my next novel. Thanks

[Albert Tucher]

Check out WITSEC : inside the Federal Witness Protection Program, by Pete Earley and Gerald Schur (Bantam Books, 2002). 

[Teresa Burrell]

Thanks, I will, but I still need someone who I can ask some questions

[Eric Christopherson]

It's my impression (which may be mistaken) that the people who really know about witness protection don't talk about it. But best of luck!

[Stephen Seitz]

I'd try these guys: 

• FBI National Press Office[phone]

[Teresa Burrell]

Thank you, I'll try that. 

[dan petrosini]

Hi I did some research on it for my last crime novel, Complicit Witness.  What type of info you need>

[Teresa Burrell]

I'm trying to get someone out of witness protection in my novel and need to know how to do that, what happens, etc.

Do you have any resources you would recommend?

[Jed Power]

One way is to have them just walk away.  Some people grow tired of what they feel is a dull life and leave; there is nothing technically holding most of them.

Others may be tossed out because they've returned to a life of crime, although I know they are usually given a second or third chance depending on how serious the violation. 

[Teresa Burrell]

Thanks, do you have any resources you can recommend?

[Martin Roy Hill]

In the US, the Witness Protection Program is run by the U.S. Marshal's Office. Here's a link to a fact sheet: http://www.usmarshals.gov/duties/factsheets/witsec-2013.pdf  If you have problems with the link, just go the the website and look for it under Duties.

You don't have to get someone out of the program. It's voluntary. People can just walk away from it, and do some times.

Protective custody is another thing. That's virtually an arrest of a person to protect them for their own good or the good of the court. That's done at both the local and federal level.