Mar 26, 2009 6:34 pm US/Eastern
Cummings Announces Witness Protection Legislation
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Congressman Elijah Cummings is pushing for more funding to protect witnesses.
CBS
A Baltimore man is on trial this week for ordering the killing of a witness who planned to testify at his murder trial. Now a congressman is asking for millions of dollars to fight the problem of witness intimidation.
Suzanne Collins reports it would help witnesses move and get protection.
Carl Lackl was executed in his front yard as he stood with his son, just before he was to testify in a murder case.
The suspect in that case, in jail at the time, is now on trial for ordering the hit on Lackl.
In another case, a family's home was set on fire after they reported drug dealers to police. Seven members of the Dawson family died.
The city state's attorney says witness intimidation is still a serious problem. That might mean murderers go free.
"Even this week, prosecutors were working very hard to salvage prosecutions that had been thwarted as a result of witnesses recanting their testimony prior to coming to court," said Pat Jessamy, City State's Attorney.
Congressman Elijah Cummings announced Thursday he will introduce a bill offering tens of millions in grants to help protect witnesses. Still, people say they are scared by videos like "Stop Snitching" and "Word of Witness Killings."
"They're scared to death to testify. They think that someone is gonna do harm to them. They know that's going to come; their life is on the line for it. My life might be on the line for saying this," said Reginald Jones.
"People simply trying to do right, they're having to go through the anguish of somebody possibly threatening them, trying to convince them not to testify," said Cummings.
The State's Attorney's Office says that people were coming from a hall in the courthouse right to the witness waiting room, opening the door and coming in to try to talk to them or possibly intimidate them.
A security wall to protect witnesses has just been installed.
"Two individuals made death threats and hand gestures that mimicked the firing of a gun in the hallways of the court house. Who was the recipient of these threats? A 7-year-old girl who was the victim in the case," said Lt. Sam Cogan, Sheriff's Office. "These tactics of intimidation erode the very fabric of our criminal justice system. Criminals can't be allowed to silence the truth through threats of violence or actual violent acts."
The State's Attorney's Office says they do relocate witnesses and try to protect them, but because of the "Stop Snitching" culture of fear they say they need more resources to uphold justice.
"We need our citizens to have faith and confidence in the system. So that when they come forward, they know that they're going to get the kind of assistance and protection that they need," said Jessamy.
"We are tired of innocent people losing their lives for being good citizens and standing up to keep their neighborhoods safe," said Cummings.
The congressman says witness intimidation is even a problem in rural areas, not just in cities, across the United States.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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