News 3 has been investigating the lack of funds to protect witnesses in the state of Virginia for more than two years now.
Many times, a witness of a crime wants to cooperate with law enforcement. But don’t have the resources to acquire a safe location to avoid intimidation or retaliation.
On Tuesday, Norfolk’s city council approved funding in the city’s budget witness protection program.
Watch: Cities have more money to protect you if you are a witness or victim of a crime
Cities have more money to protect you if you are a witness or victim of a crime
Prosecutors say many times , witnesses are too scared to take the stand in fear of retaliation from the people they are testifying against.
Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney Ramin Fatehi says funding that was just approved by Norfolk City Council to go towards the city’s witness protection program will help more witnesses cooperate.
Any city in Virginia can apply and get up to $25,000 from Virginia’s Victim Witness Grant program. The funding was approved by the general assembly in 2023.