Although they occur rarely, acts of intimidation and/or threats against witnesses of crime are taken very seriously by the Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office, and by the State of Colorado. In 1995, The Colorado General Assembly created a program for the purpose of facilitating protective measures for victims and witnesses involved in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. In 2006, the program was named the Javad Marshall-Fields and Vivian Wolfe Witness Protection Program.
Relocation, housing, food, travel, and security expenses may be covered for a temporary amount of time, when it has been determined that the safety of a witness or the witness' family is jeopardized due to their involvement in the community justice system. Assistance from this program, unlike the federal witness protection program, is not permanent, and cannot assist with changing a person's identity.
Funds from this program must be requested through the District Attorney's Office by a law enforcement agency, or by the deputy district attorney assigned to prosecute the criminal case. Requests for expenses covered by this program are reviewed, and approved by a three-member Witness Protection Board. This board is made up of the Attorney General, the Executive Director of Public Safety, and the Executive Director of the Colorado District Attorney's Council or their respective designees.
If you are threatened, intimidated, or asked not to testify because you are a witness in a case, please call the police as soon as possible and then inform the District Attorney's Office. If you believe you are in danger, call 911.