An overview of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s Witness Protection Program was the focus of the December meeting of Arlington’s 16th Ward Block Watch.

The guests were police Detective Matthew Cornwall and Detective Marlease Porter.

The meeting began with a short video on the program’s billboard campaign, in which pictures of victims of unsolved homicides are posted along roadways in an attempt to get witnesses to come forward.

That is one initiative of the program, said Det. Cornwall.

The program primarily provides temporary security to witnesses, victims and their families who are endangered due to their upcoming testimony against violent criminals.

That could mean relocation to a hotel or a family member’s house, with the program covering relocation expenses. A police escort will be provided to and from all court-related appearances.

The program does not change or alter one’s physical identity; drastically alter one’s life; or offer financial support on a long-term basis.

To be admitted into the program, the witness must be referred by the city police or the county district attorney’s office.

Those ineligible to be witnesses include: current or former informants; people involved in unresolved child custody disputes; witnesses who have been deactivated in the past; and those who witness non-felony cases.

Program officials work in conjunction with the city police Homicide Unit, county district attorney’s office and various units of the police Major Crimes Division.

The guidelines of the program are: it is voluntary; witnesses must testify; witnesses acquire no official status with the city police; witnesses cannot violate any criminal laws while in the program; witnesses must submit to a credit check, polygraph and random drug testing.

The program does not provide monetary compensation for testifying. But it does provide assistance to make witnesses as comfortable as possible while in the program.

For juvenile witnesses, the entire family must be admitted, and parental permission must be obtained.

The program response is based on the threat level assessment.

For example, for a verbal threat or vandalism, surveillance may be placed on the residence, or a temporary move may occur.

When a threat is made and a physical assault occurs, the witness will be relocated out of the area.

The covered relocation expenses are: moving and storage when necessary; transportation fee to new location; security deposit and first month’s rent; meals when in temporary location (microwave and prepared food); and transportation to and from court if out of area.

The expenses not covered include: personal transportation; medical and dental expenses; long distance calls in hotel; room service; cleaning services; video rentals or pay-per-view; and personal grooming.

The assistance which can’t be provided are a new identity, new housing purchase or new vehicle purchase.

To an attendee’s question of who funds the program, Det. Cornwall cited the city and federal grants.

When asked how successful it is, he responded that nobody has ever been killed in it, but that people have been killed when they returned home.

Participation in the program ends when the trial ends. Currently, the program has 20 participants.

“The biggest threat to people is themselves,” said Det. Cornwall, referring to witnesses’ calling friends and family and inviting them to their relocation site to party.

To a question of where are witnesses relocated to, he said they are moved to a hotel or a family member’s house. They choose where they want to go, he said, with the program’s approval.

Once witnesses are relocated, and later out of the program, it is up to those witnesses to pay to move back home. The program no longer has any contact with them.

To a question of whether the program will help sell a witness’s house if that witness relocates, Det. Cornwall responded, “We’re not in the real estate business.”

When asked what happens to a witness’s job upon relocation, he said in the year he’s been with the program only one witness has had a job or house. Others lived in the street, or were on welfare or unemployed.

Those are the people who see crimes occurring.

“It’s really a local neighborhood thing,” he said.

The next block watch meeting will be on Feb. 12. Officials of animal control and environmental services will be invited to speak.

Residents who want to serve on the block watch’s Building Inspection Committee should contact block watch co-coordinator Mary Lavelle.