The International Cooperation Group

Publications

THE PROTECTION OF WITNESSES

Gregory Lacko

INTRODUCTION

An effective witness protection program is an often essential tool in the fight against crime. Those who face investigation and criminal prosecution may attempt to frustrate the administration of justice through intimidation or by causing physical or other harm to witnesses or their relatives. In the absence of any program to protect them from reprisals, witnesses may not be forthcoming, and the justice system may be paralysed. At the same time, it cannot be overemphasised that implementing a witness protection scheme is an extremely demanding enterprise. Both the stakes and the risks are high. The success of major criminal investigations and prosecutions, the safety of the witnesses and police officers involved, as well as the integrity and effectiveness of the program itself all depend on the sound design and careful implementation of the scheme set in place.

The present document describes how witnesses are given long-term protec-tion by the federal government in Canada. The term "witness" will be used here in a broad sense to refer to all the different types of individuals who collaborate with the justice system[1].