-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VatrUec2tH2p9Ivz6sErRayi1UtmvnLbRjyankNTjUd/GvKlf8Bj+Tm9p+M/KQ4s
 HuKA1+pxM94y/uusVrMAFQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-008081.txt : 20040415
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-008081.hdr.sgml : 20040415
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040415093725
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-008081
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040414
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040415

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FORD JEFFREY S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189429

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29335
		FILM NUMBER:		04734755

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 COLONIAL CENTER PARKWAY
		CITY:			ROSWAL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		430 IVY HALL
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30350

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WITNESS SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001097338
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				232518693
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 COLONIAL CENTER PARKWAY STE 600
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30004
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7707541900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 COLONIAL CENTER PARKWAY STE 600
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001097338</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WITNESS SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WITS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189429</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FORD JEFFREY S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>300 COLONIAL CENTER PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROSWELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30076</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Global Services</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-03-03</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42171</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-03-03</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.86</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>39171</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-03-03</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-07-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>106380</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person's stock option is fully exercisable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Loren B. Wimpfheimer, as Attorney-in-Fact for Jeffrey S. Ford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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