Criminal Law Legal Guide
Criminal Law Legal Guide Categories
- Know Your Legal Rights
- Miranda Rights
- Probable Cause
- Three Strikes Law: The Facts
- Falsely Accused of or Imprisoned for a Crime
- Turning State's Evidence and Organized Crime
- Reduction in Charges
- How to Plead
- Witness Protection Program
- Hiring the Right Criminal Lawyer
- Cost of Criminal Defense Representation
- Court Appointed Lawyers
Witness Protection Program
The Witness Protection Program was first introduced in 1970, by the Organized Crime Control Act. It is when the U.S. Attorney General can provide relocation and protection of a witness or potential witness, of a federal or state government when an organized crime or serious offence has been committed.
In the Witness Protection Program, the witness or witnesses that testify in these trials are protected against intimidation before they testify or criminal retaliation after. The federal government will relocate and provide new identities to the witnesses, which keep them from risking their lives by testifying in court. It keeps those that are being accused of the crime from retaliating once they get out of jail or have been let off of all charges.
Once you are in the witness protection program, it is important to follow all rules that you are provided. Breaking these rules to contact anyone in your past will only put you at risk of being found by the one person you don't want to find you. That is the only way you can be found once you are in the witness protection program. It is up to you to make sure you leave everything and everyone behind. Your life is at risk if you don't.
You have seen this done in movies all the time, but it is different when it is really happening to you. It is something that you can't take lightly and need to talk to someone about. If your life is in danger if you step on that stand or even before you step on the stand, then you will need to get protection for you and your family. Sometimes it's the only way to get that key witness on the stand, by letting them know they will be protected by the witness protection program. It does exist and can be used when needed.
Your life is not something to put on the line, but telling the truth about a crime that has been committed can save lives. If you are in the witness protection program, you don't have to worry about your life being on the line. You and your family will be safe and well protected.
