NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk's top prosecutor said they’re a step closer to new funding to protect witnesses of a crime.
Virginia lawmakers approved a budget in September that allocated $1 million for a witness protection program.
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi says witnesses are a key part of solving and prosecuting a crime. But mistrust and fear can often stop them from coming forward.
"If they want to come forward and they’re scared, we should have resources," he said.
The funding is meant to support families who may face intimidation or danger for their cooperation with an investigation and prosecution of serious crimes.
Now, after almost nine months of waiting and some uncertainty, Fatehi said he received word Friday they’ve been approved for up to $25,000.
"I have cases ready to charge where if I could offer protection to witnesses, we would be able to do something and I can't," said Fatehi.
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He said it’s a reimbursement process that will still take time to navigate.
A spokesperson for Governor Glenn Youngkin said so far, 18 offices have signed up, but to date, none have drawn down on their funding. He went on to say the state allocates $25,000 to prosecutors who apply to be in the program, with the option to request additional funding once the initial amount is used.
When asked if it’s enough, Fatehi said this:
"There is no way of telling. We could need less than that in one year and triple of that in another," he said.
Fatehi said even with the funding approved, they would need to make sure the witnesses remain cooperative as they put a plan in place for protection and find out if that plan is consistent with what the Department of Criminal Justice would reimburse.
Norfolk Police have investigated 17 homicides so far this year including five in the last few weeks alone.
In the meantime, Fatehi encourages people who have information about a crime to come forward.
"It’s heartbreaking and frustrating for both the police and for me when we know that somebody has seen something and they are not speaking to us. All I can say to anybody is if you’ve seen something, imagine the person who is dead is your child, you would want somebody to say something," he said.