Students, Witness Security


	Witness Security
	The Marshals Service protects government witnesses and their families. These witnesses agree to provide important testimony (tell what they know) if they can be protected from harm and will not be charged with a crime.
	The Marshals Service protects witnesses who testify against dangerous defendants like drug traffickers, organized crime members, terrorists, and other criminals. For a witness’ testimony, the government offers protection, a new name and a safe location. Since 1971, more than 7,500 witnesses have entered the Witness Security Program, and including 17,000 family members. The Marshals Service provides each new witness with the following services:
		24 hour protection before and during all judicial proceeding
		counseling and training for the changes that will occur
		physical and dental examinations
		briefings about their relocation to a new region
		helping find a new job
		backup documents using their new name in a new location
		Since the Witness Security Program began, protected witnesses' testimony has helped put 89 percent (a lot) of criminals they testified against in prison. No witness has ever been harmed while under the active protection and following the security guidelines of the Marshals Service!

	Learn more:
	Historical Information about Witness Security