The WITNESS PROTECTION ACT is used AFTER a witness has given evidence at a trial. The person gets his/her name changed and moved someplace else and virtually becomes someone else. They are NOT allowed to be in contact with any friends of family. This is usually used on "MOB" cases.
But I think that Nifong hid the "victim" away, acting as though the slut were in such a state. Of course, he's dead wrong. This whole thing has stuck from day one.