Justice Department auditors warn of “significant concerns” over the department’s handling of sex offenders who pass through the Witness Security program, in a report issued Wednesday.
“Given the nature of the WITSEC program, we believe that individuals convicted of sex-related crimes...pose risks that the department needs to take into account and address,” the Office of Inspector General report states.
The OIG auditors further warned that “the department has not taken sufficient steps to mitigate the threat posed by program participants, including sex offenders, who commit crimes after being terminated from the program.”
One issue is the potential conflict between protecting the witness, through anonymity, while at the same time protecting the community, through sex offender registration requirements.
Since the early 1970s, the program has protected more than 8,648 witnesses and more than 9,967 dependants. The report further notes that a total of 11,257 individuals have received a legal name change and left the program.
Prior to 2012, auditors noted, the Justice Department did not know how many convicted sex offenders had entered the program. A subsequent review identified 58 individuals who had been convicted of a sex offense prior to, during, or after their departure from the Witness Security program.
Auditors acknowledged that the department “has made significant efforts” since 2012 to identify sex offenders.
“The department has made a concerted effort to address issues that (arose) during the course of our reviews and incorporate necessary changes in its policies and procedures,” auditors added.