Witness Protection Program not a ticket to easy street

The federal Witness Protection Program began in the mid-1960s and is operated by the U.S. Marshals Service.

To be eligible for the program, candidates must face threats for agreeing to testify as a prosecution witness or for cooperating with federal law enforcement agencies. Candidates undergo psychological testing and a “threat assessment.” They must be willing to sever all contact with friends and relatives who don’t enter the program.

“Entering the Witness Security program is not like winning the lottery,” according to the Web site “How Stuff Works.” Witnesses must pay off debts and any unresolved civil or criminal matters, including child support, before entering the program.

In exchange, the federally protected witness is:

“ Given a new name and Social Security number.

“ Moved to a new city and given one “reasonable job” opportunity.

“ Provided subsistence payments averaging $2,000 a month for up to 18 months.

Since its inception, more than 7,500 witnesses have entered the program, along with 9,500 of their family members.

Some federal witnesses remain in the program only a short time. Others are serving prison sentences in special housing, supervised by the federal Bureau of Prisons.

In 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, the program operated on a $53 million budget.

Author Chuck Logan, who wrote a book about the program, said, “Ninety-seven percent of the people who enter the program are small-time hoods, and now the program is crammed with drug cases.”

Logan said adjustment to the program can be difficult.

“There is the considerable problem of going from a violent illegal life on the streets to a usually low-paying, straight 9-to-5 job,” he said.

“Imagine being a nocturnal drug dealer suddenly stuck with Tommy Lee Jones as your armed nanny who’s bugging you to get up at dawn and make it to work at Wendy’s.”