There’s a new push to protect witnesses of violent crimes in order to convince them to testify, with a bill being introduced in Congress.11 News takes a look at the impact it could have here in Baltimore. Prosecutors said it could help address what many call a “stop snitching” culture and allow them to put violent offenders behind bars.In some areas in Baltimore, police are investigating crime on a daily basis and prosecutors said oftentimes, fear can make it very hard to get witnesses to come forward. Maryland congressman Kweisi Mfume wants to help change that.”Witnesses need to feel like they’re going to be protected. We have an obligation, I think,” Mfume said. Mfume’s “Witness Security and Protection Rant Program Act of 2023″ aims to better protect and support witnesses to serious crimes who are willing to come forward and testify in criminal trials. The main point of the bill is funding to help ensure witnesses are protected against the impact of threats and coercion.”We oftentimes repeat the theme, ‘If you see something, say something,’ and then when people want to say something, they are intimidated by actual violence, by threats of violence and sometimes it’s domestic. Oftentimes it has a chilling effect on that particular witness and other witnesses,” Mfume said.If passed, the bill would authorize $150 million for state and local governments that maintain witness protection programs, including all cases involving homicides, violent felonies, serious drug offenses and gang-related crimes.”In Baltimore, more so in many respects than anywhere else, this is a severe problem, absolutely severe. Whether it’s the gangs or individuals or others out of town, they can’t be allowed to intimidate witnesses,” Mfume said. New Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates sees a lot of potential in this bill. For one, he said it would allow his office to gain additional attorneys to specifically prosecute witness intimidation.”And No. 2, it allows us to have the money to move some of the witnesses and some of the victims out of those neighborhoods,” Bates said. “It would allow us to put them in a better place in a better location so they can come to court and testify against some of the violent criminals who are committing the crimes.The bill already has endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Children’s Alliance and other organizations.
There’s a new push to protect witnesses of violent crimes in order to convince them to testify, with a bill being introduced in Congress.
11 News takes a look at the impact it could have here in Baltimore. Prosecutors said it could help address what many call a “stop snitching” culture and allow them to put violent offenders behind bars.
In some areas in Baltimore, police are investigating crime on a daily basis and prosecutors said oftentimes, fear can make it very hard to get witnesses to come forward. Maryland congressman Kweisi Mfume wants to help change that.
“Witnesses need to feel like they’re going to be protected. We have an obligation, I think,” Mfume said.
Mfume’s “Witness Security and Protection Rant Program Act of 2023” aims to better protect and support witnesses to serious crimes who are willing to come forward and testify in criminal trials.
The main point of the bill is funding to help ensure witnesses are protected against the impact of threats and coercion.
“We oftentimes repeat the theme, ‘If you see something, say something,’ and then when people want to say something, they are intimidated by actual violence, by threats of violence and sometimes it’s domestic. Oftentimes it has a chilling effect on that particular witness and other witnesses,” Mfume said.
If passed, the bill would authorize $150 million for state and local governments that maintain witness protection programs, including all cases involving homicides, violent felonies, serious drug offenses and…