NCJ Number
90088
Date Published
1982
Length
195 pages
Annotation
This congressional hearing on the selection procedures for the Federal witness security program and the threats posed by protected witnesses to the community focuses on crimes committed by protected witnesses in Mississippi.
Abstract
Law enforcement officials from Mississippi described the September 1981 kidnapping and murder of a savings and loan employee by a federally protected witness in Jackson as well as a murder in Pascagoula and a robbery in Natchez committed by two other protected witnesses. These speakers emphasized the extensive criminal histories of the criminals and police problems in investigating their backgrounds because of the changed identities. Another witness described how she was defrauded by a protected witness and was unable to collect damages because of the program's inadequate supervision, documentation for participants, and job assistance. Officials from the Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service traced the witness protection program's history and actions taken to redress problems, principally more stringent and uniform admission standards. They emphasized the difficulties involved in managing a program where 97 percent of the clients and criminal backgrounds and noted that participants' recidivism rates were relatively low. Other topics discussed included screening techniques, supervision, job assistance, cooperation between the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, and identification systems. Finally, committee members and witnesses addressed the recent decline in program participants, budget issues, and the program's role in combating organized crime. Supplemental materials submitted subsequent to the hearing and an index are provided.