The unseen burden: Challenges by children and adolescents in witness protection programs in western countries

Abstract

Witness Protection Programs are indispensable tools in the fight against organized crime, designed to safeguard individuals whose testimonies are crucial for justice. While these programs have demonstrated remarkable success in ensuring the physical safety of adult witnesses, the profound and often unaddressed challenges faced by accompanying children and adolescents represent a critical oversight. This article examines the multifaceted psychosocial, familial, educational, and societal hurdles encountered by children and adolescents relocated within western witness protection programs, focusing in particular on Europe and the US. Drawing upon existing literature, this report elucidates the cumulative trauma, identity disruption, social isolation, and educational instability inherent in their experiences. The analysis reveals a historical underestimation of children's unique vulnerabilities and rights within these programs. Recommendations emphasize the urgent need for a paradigm shift towards child-centric and family-focused western witness protection programs, advocating for holistic assessment, integrated mental health services, prioritized educational continuity, proactive social integration strategies, community engagement, enhanced professional training, and robust long-term research to ensure the comprehensive well-being of this exceptionally vulnerable population.