Denver District Attorney's Office Witness Protection Program.

AuthorMorrissey, Mitch

Intimidation or harm to victims and witnesses of crime is a considerable security concern for law enforcement, prosecutors and human service providers throughout the U.S. Victim Witness Protection Programs form an imperative part of local, state and national security by providing safety for victims and witnesses while ensuring that dangerous criminals are incapacitated. According to a review of Witness Protection Programs around the world, including the U.S., the protection of victims and witnesses is essential to acquiring convictions and maintaining public confidence in the effectiveness of governments to protect their citizens.

Victim and witness intimidation are particularly acute in the state of Colorado. The Denver District Attorney's Witness Protection Program was developed in response to this growing threat to victims and witnesses in criminal cases. The program has developed into a robust response to witness intimidation in the city and has grown from one part-time investigator to three investigators working these time-intensive cases. During its six years of operation, the Witness Protection Program has opened a total of 315 cases with in excess of 400 victims and witnesses protected. To date, the program has not had a single successful attack against its protected witnesses and victims that are in compliance with the program.

The Witness Protection Program employs three pillars of its operations to combat witness intimidation.

1) Tactical VW Protection Strategies--Tactical protection strategies are the cornerstone of the Program and these measures include threat intelligence gathering and analysis; security assessments; housing and transportation; interstate relocation; and jail and corrections housing strategies.

2) VW Assistance Services--Collaboration with system based and community based advocacy agencies is central to combatting the physical...

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