Not get charges for committing crimes during their investigations. And yes, legally they are allowed to commit certain crimes while undercover.
2006-08-23 15:22:43 · 21 answers · asked by Elliot Ness 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
OK. How is it legal? Explanation? And how far can they go? what things are they allowed to do or not allowed to do?
2006-08-23 19:03:15 · update #1
well you've answered your own question I think. Sometimes they have to do the illegal stuff to catch the people that are doing it all the time. Like buying drugs, looking for hookers etc. How else will they get 'em??? Now unless they are doing it on there own and now under cover...that's a different story.
2006-08-23 17:34:34 · answer #1 · answered by merivel7 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes - with authorization, cops undercover can break certain laws. But this is not the movies - their supervisors are aware every step of the way. There are no renegades out there killing criminals and "serving justice" in that manner. The crimes they generally break are "D felonies" or "minor" crimes. They have a fine line to walk, and they have to have some credibility. But they do not go around just breaking laws for the hell of it, and any knowledge of a crime committed in their presence is immediately acted upon without upsetting an investigation or compromising the cop undercover.
2006-08-23 15:35:11 · answer #2 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, the majority of Police departments have very strick rules, not to mention, laws, that define and dictate what an undercover cop can and cannot do. One law is that you CAN NOT USE DRUGS just to get a bust. You can not have sex with a prostitute just to bust her for solicitation. About the only few things that are allowed, is buying stolen merchandise, buying drugs ( controlled buy/bust only), picking up possible prostitutes and see if they offer their services. ( called solicitation)
Laws are very clear and yes, there are some cops on the take and hopefully, they too will get what they deserve, busted.
If you call your local department, they will answer your questions and if you know a cop who is pushing the limit, report them.
2006-08-23 15:31:34 · answer #3 · answered by bigmikejones 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
When your work involves criminals and gangs, you
may have to "match" that kind of activity to catch them.
Investigators sometimes put their own lives on the line
to catch the real criminals. If they go beyond the
limits allowed, they too have been arrested (or fired)
in more instances than you or I know. Even policemen
have used their uniform to lure young girls to have sex
with them, but when this is found out, they are fired and/
or arrested (as it should be). Undercover police must
dress like and act like the kind of people they have to
mingle with to catch like a drug king or child pornography
mastermind. Too bad we just have so many "bad guys"
in this country that we have to confront and try to
protect society from.
2006-08-23 15:36:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in my experience cops under cover or not get away with most things,, like the driver doing 159mph, or the ones who kill innocents whilst chasing a two bit hoody in a stolen car,,
its a bit like the capital punishment argument,,we dont want to bring it back in case we get one wrong!!!!
why bother chasing car theifs at the expence of someones life,, if we stopped chasing the prats(they would loose the buzz factor that they desire)and the crime would happen less,,
even cops who steal ,can retire before the trial and get full pension rights ,,what a joke,,
law makers my bum,,
they are some of the most un trustworthy people on this planet and lie for fun,,,
2006-08-24 08:04:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
posing as a 13 year old child to entrap peados theres nothing wrong with that. you gotta break some laws to enforce morality which in an ideal world should'nt have to be done
2006-08-23 22:29:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is in the *scope* of their duty as a police officer. Sometimes, they have to get dirty in the process of protecting the public.
To be more percise, the president - within his scope as president - vetos or signs bills into legislation. You and I don't get to do this.
A caseworker for the Children's Services Bearu can J6 (legal jargon for the actual rule in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) a child (with police presant) and remove a child from their home.
A zoning inspecter has the authority to rezone your home as a commercial property, or multi use...etc.
A health inspector has the authority to shut down a nasty resteraunt because of rats.
It is within the scope of their job. In other words, their mere profession allows them to - granted certain permissions that the public is not.
Hope this helps!
2006-08-23 15:28:16 · answer #7 · answered by Baby #3 due 10/13/09 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
They as far as it takes to get a confiction, and they are not allowed to lie if you ask them if they are coppers!
2006-08-23 22:59:01 · answer #8 · answered by Macka 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They get charged for those crimes... but they are "undercover"
2006-08-23 15:26:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes they can.Difference is ,who is going to charge them,and with no charge ,then they cannot be prosecuted.
2006-08-23 15:29:45 · answer #10 · answered by Rather be dead than red... 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋