Hiding in Plain Sight Series
Saturday, May 31, 2008
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Hiding in Plain Sight Series
Check out USA Network’s new original series In Plain Sight. The series premiere is on Sunday,June 1st at 10/9c, just a day away!
I am excited about the show “In Plain Sight”. It is about people in the witness protection program being hidden, obviously in plain sight.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in the witness protection program? Well, I have wondered. I’ve seen other shows about the lives of folks who witnessed some crime or who turned witness against someone with whom they were involved in a crime. This type of movie is always fascinating.
Imagine leaving all that you hold familiar, your family, your friends, your home, your job, your past, and your identity to start a new life with a new identity. Now imagine a journey of no return. Ever! Hard to imagine? Put yourself in the place of probably thousands who have had to live this life in reality. It’s a bit difficult to think about never seeing Aunt Maggie or your brother Joe,isn’t it? That is what happens to people who actually go into the witness protection program.
The danger of being a material witness against dangerous and powerful criminals is all too well known to me! I was a state’s witness against a man who was involved in organized crime in a city I will not mention. During the investigation of this man and his crime ring, it was discovered that some powerful people were involved in the operation with him. Though the investigation went to the federal level, I did not have the coverage of the witness protection program. Where was a Marshall Mary Shannon when I needed her?
Now I am going to put myself in the place of one of the characters on the new NBC series “In Plain Sight”, to discover what I hold in common. This is going to be fun. I cannot wait for the series to begin. I will not miss an episode, if I can help it!
The star, Mary Shannon, is a US Marshall who has the responsibility of helping protected witnesses start a new life. Since I have personal experience as a witness, I can relate to some of the witnesses. However, I most relate to the star character Mary Shannon. All the work she has to provide protection for her witnesses in the Witness Protection Program, was left up to me. When it came down to it, I had to know when to run and where to hide. So essentially, Mary Shannon is definitely my hero in this show.
The responsibility of protecting the witnesses is a gigantic one. Add to it, the emotional tug of war Mary must go through is immense. When I had to testify, some of my family urged me not to return to the county of these high crimes for court. My own husband, which I could relate to Mary’s partner Marshall Mann, struggled with encouraging me to testify and continue to co-operate in the investigation, then would rescind and advise me to get out before I got hurt.
The F.B.I. got involved and witnesses died after giving their deposition. Again, there was no witness protection for any of us. I was devastated. Given the nature of Mary’s compassionate and responsible character, I am sure she is also devastated when a relocation goes sour. I could not imagine the responsibility for someone other than myself.
I did not really think about the danger on an actual conscious level, to myself or my family. I could not function in my daily life if I gave too much credence to the reality of the danger being a witness proposed for me. Marshalls like Mary Shannon and her partner,Marshall Mann, live the scenario every day. Their responsibility goes beyond a personal level and extends to a professional level. They have to think about the safety of not only the witnesses they are paid to protect and relocate, but themselves and their own families, as well as the families of the witnesses.
If I were to put myself in Mary Shannon’s place, I would play the role of mother, priest, friend, counselor and Marshall as well. It would be second nature to me, as I live this way by adapting to the roles depending on the people in my life. During my stint as a material witness, I had so many highs and lows. Numerous opportunities presented to be in the various role Mary depicts. From Federal Agents, to state investigators, to city police and county sheriffs and further to very frightened associated witnesses, I took on the lead role to convince everyone involved that each of us was doing the “right thing” by seeing the investigation through and by testifying to stop the crimes against the victims. It was a very tough place to be.
Mary Shannon is both tough and tender. I truly admire her and am inspired by Mary. I had to live all those emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other with all that is imaginable in between. The only difference for me is that I did not have the extra support of the position as Marshall or the badge, the partner, or the boss. However, my family was a lot more supportive than Mary Shannon’s family. Though my mother was unlike Jinx or Mary’s sister Brandi who lounged by the pool, at least my family knew what I was involved in and I did not have to hide what I was doing from my family. Hiding from the criminals was another story!
About the show , following is the information from the USA Network website. This narrative describes it better than I could, so I have quoted the show introduction below.
“In Plain Sight’s main character, Mary Shannon, is a U.S. Marshal attached to the Federal Witness Protection Program known as WITSEC It’s her and her partner Marshall Mann’s job (yes, he’s a Marshal named “Marshall”) to protect the witnesses and their families who have been relocated to the Albuquerque, New Mexico area.”
So folks, fine tune that television and set your VCR’s or satellite recorders and catch every episode of “In Plain Sight” scheduled to premiere tomorrow, Sunday, June 1st at 10/9 central time. Don’t miss probably the most exciting show of the season!
Hold on to the edge of your seat as you watch and remember one important aspect of the show for each person who enters the witness protection program. “You can never go back!”
For more information, visit the website for USA Network at http://www.usanetwork.com/.
Sponsored by USA Network’s new original series In Plain Sight
