The Federal Witness Protection Program has been in
existence since 1970. Its main purpose is to allow the government to have a better
chance of getting witnesses to testify against people who might be inclined to harm
those who testify against them. This is especially important in the prosecution of
people who are allegedly involved in drug trafficking and/or organized
crime.
In such cases, witnesses (especially those who once
belonged to the organized crime families or drug cartels) are often afraid that they
will be killed if they testify. This makes it hard to persuade them to testify as to
what they know. The witness protection program was set up so as to protect these
witnesses by giving them new identities that, it is hoped, will prevent them from being
found and killed for their role in the trial.
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