# Justice Manual § 9-21.130: Prisoner-Witnesses

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.130

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-21.130
- **Heading:** Prisoner-Witnesses
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-21.000 - Witness Security / Justice Manual § 9-21.130

## Text

Prisoners in a State or Federal institution are eligible for participation in the Witness Security Program provided all other criteria are met. If the prisoner is in State custody, the State must agree to the prisoner serving his/her sentence in the custody of the BOP. The application should be made as prescribed for other witnesses; however, because there is no assessment of the risk to the public unless a witness is to be relocated in the community, there is also no need for a psychological evaluation nor an assessment of the risk to the public (normally submitted by the sponsoring attorney or investigative agency). No preliminary interview is conducted by the USMS until the prisoner is between six to nine months from release and is being considered for the full services of the Program - including relocation. If application is being made for the prisoner's family to be relocated while the prisoner is incarcerated, psychological evaluations and risk assessments are needed for all adult family members, and it must be demonstrated that there is no alternative to placement of the family in the Program at that time.

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-21.010 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.020 Scope](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.020.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.050 Utilization of Persons in Custody of BOP or USMS for Investigative Purposes, or as Targets of Investigative Activity](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.050.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.100 Eligibility for the Witness Security Program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.110 Informants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.110.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.130 Prisoner-Witnesses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.130.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.140 State and Local Witnesses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.140.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.200 Approval Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.220 Emergency Authorization](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.220.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.300 Requests for Preliminary Interviews](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.300.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.310 Representations and Promises](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.310.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.320 Expenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.320.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.330 Psychological Testing and Evaluation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.330.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-21.340 Polygraph Examinations for Prisoner-Witness Candidates](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.340.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-21.130. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.