Witness protection in the organized crime criminal procedures

Abstract

Witness protection is one of the most important measures of fight against organized crime, together with special investigative measures. But the purpose of witness protection is not solely to gather necessary evidence for conviction easier, and thereby contribute to better suppression of organized crime by means of criminal law; witness protection is consequence of humanization of criminal law. Some forms of witness protection in criminal procedures confront some basic procedural principles and some basic rights of the accused. Croatian criminal procedural law regulates witness protection mostly satisfactotory, its solutions provide balance of this two confronted aspirations.

Keywords

• witness protection
• organized crime
• criminal procedure
• witness anonymity
• confrontation right