Undercover Operations

Paper Summary:

This paper outlines the uses of police decoys in light of the writer's personal experience as a decoy. The paper defines police decoys' activities, discusses the brief history behind the use of decoys and explains the effect of constitutional considerations surrounding their use. The paper examines the use of informants and the training available and accessible for decoys and analyzes safety hazards involved in being employed as a decoy. The paper also explores any relevant ethical issues. Finally, the paper concludes that in general, the use of decoys in the United States criminal justice system has been proven to be effective.

Outline:
Definition
History
Constitutional Considerations
Use of Informants
Training for Decoys
Hazards
Ethical Issues
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Information and intelligence have always been, and will remain the most essential components of policing, and indeed all law enforcement and security work (Taylor & Francis, 2002). The use of a decoy in police operations involves the use of an innocent unrelated third party to "set up" the criminal. The use of a police decoy is equivalent to a source of information used to assist the police or relevant authority in solving a crime. Sources of information are many and varied, ranging from everyday interactions with police officers, to anonymous reports, and to the use of paid and unpaid informants."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barnes, C. 1997. Saratoga 'Sting' operations warn stores selling alcohol to minors. Saratoga News. August 1, 1997.
• Colquitt, J. 2004. Rethinking Entrapment. American Criminal Law Review. Vol. 41.
• Office of the Appellate Defender. 2003. Illinois Handbook of Criminal Law Decisions. Office of the Appellate Defender.
• Oregon Liquor Control Commission. 2005. Oregon State Archives. Oregon Bulletin. February 1, 2005.
• Taylor & Francis. 2002. The Program of Criminal Undercover Agents Sources in

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