What are the advantages and disadvantages of using informants in criminal investigations?
924459
The advantage is obviously getting access to info on criminal activity that would otherwise not be available but the downside is the immunity that so often is traded for the info provided by these informants.  Sometimes it's too big a price to pay.
775133
It's not too unusual for a details of an investigation to change slightly. Remember, most of the Officers are coming into a situation blind, they don't know what happened, they don't know who is involved and the biggest thing is they don't know who is honest or a lying puke. The initial investigation is what the players tell the Police. As evidence proves (or disproves) the sworn testamonies of witness's, Offenders, etc. the story can be entirely different that what was sworn to in the beginning. I always say, "Ignorance is blind"- If you REALLY want to see what happens in a full police investigation, take a good Criminal investigations course at your local community college. DON"T go what you see on TV! It's mostly Bull except shows like "Cold Case files, but even then, remember, it takes years to wrap up an investigation, Not 1/2 hour.
182784
Hire an undercover agent.
105236
Pros: Crime rate goes down.\n\nCons: If your a bad guy, you don't know who is carrying and who is not.
1115752
They find loopholes in the law or hide the $$$ in assets given to distant family members. They stash that stuff all over the place!\n\nIf it's a higher profile case that affects alot of people, some of the people get away with a lesser charge when they plea bargain to indict higher-ups!\n\nIn IA, 3 Cietec high-ups charged overpaying friend/family members employed there! I think it was like a million or two $$$ of state money!
1127891
I think what you describe is nowhere near the norm, and quite rare.  But one motivation for a rogue agent breaking the law to get a confession, or solve a crime, would be for personal gain.  Solving crimes is how they get promoted, get ahead.  So, in theory, they could get ahead by "solving" crimes, no matter how they "solved" them.\n\nAgain, I think this is very rare, and most stories about abuse by law enforcement are bogus stories by three-time losers.
60337
the procedures are the same as if filing against anyone, although I would first always talk to the person unless this is unsafe.\n\nI like to give people the benefit of the doubt first, talk to them, and if I need take other to talk to him or her.
831654
Pro\n- If you need police help, he might be able to call in a favour and fast-track any police work.\n- You are less likely to have problems as who would annoy the wife of a cop?\n- Extended surrogate family of all his work buddies and their families.  Good network.  This could also be a bad thing if you don't get along with any of them.\n- You will have a husband who is trained in the disarming and 'containment' of any scum that breaks into your house while you are home (or who attacks you while you are out), therefore making things safer for you.\n- He will be required by his work to maintain a level of fitness, so you will have a buff husband.  Unless he does undercover work which requires him to let himself go.\n\nCon\n- he could get shot and leave you a widow.  \n- Crims could break into your house and shoot you all while you are asleep\n- You won't be able to get away with anything illegal, unless he is corrupt, which I hope he isn't.\n- some people may think you get an easy deal being the wife of a cop, but really - don't listen to them.\n- He could be harder on you - law wise - because you are his wife and he will make a show of not letting you get away with breaking any laws.\n- Depending on his job and who he works for, you might get kidnapped and ransomed cos he pissed off an underworld figurehead.\n- Any undercover work where he is associated with drugs, as this may require him to take them himself, which may change his personality.
177059
There's really no downside to calling the police.  Let them and the DA worry about making their case.  You're just alerting them to an important matter of public safety.
512651
Okay i am not a csi officer nor to i plan to do to that. I am a pd officer and when we do small investgatiosn we collect all evidance at the scene we never look for prints back at the station that be dumb . We do take evidance back to the lab and station but not like that not unless we found like a person or something that was needed for trail in the can itself.
715519
Basically, the goal is to find a way to ask questions that will uncover those people who are likely to be on your side (either side). \n\nSome of these questions are designed to find potential jurors who would be biased against your case, or good for the other side, so that you can get them dismissed from the jury. Those are the most common, and they don't have to be too subtle.\n\nThe other type of questions are those which will reveal the jurors likely to believe your argument, but you need to do it in a way that doesn't reveal your strategy to the other side. This requires a lot of subtlety. It's usually just easier to accept anyone on the jury that you can't exclude.\n\nAs far as any particular situation, look for reasons of potential bias or prejudice. So, let's take a mugging case with three teenagers (first time offenders during spring break) as the defendants. \n\nThe defense might ask questions about who has ever been mugged, or felt threatened walking home at night, or was picked on during high school. These would indicate people likely to convict because they are afraid of being mugged themself. \n\nThe prosecution might ask questions about tolerance, mercy, people who have lived a little on the wild side themselves, people who are bullies, etc. This would indicate people likely to acquit because they either identify with the defendants, or because they believe everyone deserves a second chance.\n\nThe specific questions vary based on the fact pattern. But the goal is always to find out who among the jury pool would be bad for your case, for whatever reason, and get them dismissed.
692357
Wiretaps are generally used to gather information related to ongoing criminal activities.\n\nLike any other police procedure, if used properly, it is beneficial in that it helps remove criminals from the community. If used improperly, the criminals are the ones being paid to protect the community from criminals, and leads to a breakdown in the community.\n\nThe only thing worse than bad laws are bad law enforcement officers.
958668
Advantage... cheap and easy to reach a wide and diverse sample\n\nDisadvantage... several questionnaires can be completed by the same person... you can get riddiculous answers... you don't know the validity of your sample
990804
Most of the time, it is not a great idea for the client to be on the stand because of cross-examination.  Especially if the client has anything shady in their past that could impact the trial, it is better to avoid taking the stand.  In some circumstances, a client who is articulate and believable might make a good witness.  Ohterwise, the risks far outweight any advantages.
916238
If you do not have anything to hide than there is no reason not to cooperate with them. If the reports are truly false than obviously Child protective services will see that you are doing nothing wrong and will drop the case. Its kind of like not cooperating with a drug test....as soon as you refuse to pee in that cup everyone assumes your a druggie. I know if I was ever in that situation I'd want my good name cleared ASAP
467802
He or she can probably get into more trouble by withholding evidence.  The words that come to mind are: accessory after the fact.  I believe that could apply here.
677560
It completely depends in the state or country you live in.  I would call - or have a friend call - the State prosecutor's office and  get the information.  If you don't want to disclose who you are, just tell them you are doing research on the subject for a paper.