ACLU report says N.J. police misuse, abuse informants

Being released today by the civil-rights organization.

Police too often see informants as a way to cut legal corners and are too prone to accept their word as gospel, the report said. And sometimes informants — some innocent, some criminals themselves — are threatened into coughing up tips, the report said.

"That abuse and that pressure is only allowed to exist in a system that isn’t well regulated," said Alex Shalom, policy counsel for the ACLU’s New Jersey chapter.

Although some prosecutors criticized the report as sensational and unscientific, the ACLU said the result is flimsier criminal cases and widespread distrust of police in urban and minority communities.

Despite the crucial role of informants in the criminal justice system — particularly for inner-city drug cases — there’s no single state policy for their use, and some county prosecutors and local police lack rules of any kind, the report said. It also said existing rules aren’t followed carefully enough.

"We don’t want to have police in Madison doing things one way and police in Montclair doing things another way," Shalom said. "There’s no reason to not have uniform guidance from the attorney general," which oversees all police agencies in the state.

Some prosecutors — in Morris, Salem and Cumberland — have already begun revising their practices in response to the report. But some officials said the ACLU was exaggerating the problem.

"The report may lead some to improperly conclude that there is a pervasive problem in the handling of confidential informants by law enforcement," the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey said in a statement. "This is not the case and in those rare cases where inappropriate management of confidential informants is detected, cases are dismissed and officers are disciplined."

Paul Loriquet, spokesman for the state Attorney General’s Office, said the state "is committed to improving all aspects of New Jersey’s crime enforcement and intelligence gathering efforts." He added, "Information and cooperation from the confidential sources play a critical role in this regard, and law enforcement personnel in this state take great measures to ensure that those sources are protected and treated appropriately and that their information is corroborated."

Shalom agreed that informants can be a necessity but said their use is poorly understood or tracked. He said the lack of research led the ACLU to commission the report, which was written by two professors at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and included feedback from law enforcement agencies.

Police Organizations Role - News


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ACLU report says N.J. police misuse, abuse informants
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Confidential informants are being misused and abused by police because of poor oversight and weak policies, according to a report being released today by the civil-rights organization. Police too often see informants as a way to cut legal corners and



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Structure of police organizations | Lstt-polinema.com

Police organization structure

If I can, I would say, as I think the police should be structured. This is by no means a negative statement against Sir Robert Peel, as what he did was the best possible solution times. Peel created the modern concept of police forces in the determination of the London Metropolitan Police and heavily relied on the military rank structure of the police in developing their concept.

First, the gender comment. I will be using the term “he” in this piece. These are not my thoughts about the reflection of a woman, but simply because to write it “is easier than he / she” or “they.”

Times, attitudes, and job requirements have changed.

problem comes from trying to make the police “organization.” This is not like war, where each unit has a commander and all his subordinates to do what the leader says. It should also be regarded as a “business” in which domestic policy, budget and meetings are very important.

Police people who have personalized stationery. The full set of powers, and technically they are accountable to no one. I have not looked for a while, but I think even the law stipulates that the police are only accountable to the Police Commissioner.

How can you set up an organization with thousands of people? How can you focus and direction of an entity made up of people who can legally follow their own paths? Obviously, you need direction and focus to operate throughout the Community to establish an effective police service. What is required of every police officer

militaristic rank structure, most police agencies adopted may cause confusion. This is not legislated, the police officer must do what the inspector or sergeant orders him to do. It is usually written internal policy documents. So, we have a situation where police officers in a suite is expected to mandate that you can not use their powers, whether or not the equipment and training to effectively implement the laws, because they are needed? Why? As the rank structure, internal policies, nepotism, and the budget of thinking effectively hobbled to the individual officer.

This is my “ideal” structure. I am happy, but all the constructive comments.

First, what should this “organization” will be called? Some people think “force” is more powerful than the term “services”. I think that both concepts have their advantages and disadvantages. Overseas, the police are usually the police “department.” This is a choice.


Police Organizations Role - Bookshelf

Introduction to Criminal Justice

Introduction to Criminal Justice

The Police: Organization, Role, ... Explain the various police support functions . 11. Identify the factors that may be used to improve police productivity ...

Role and fuctioning of central police organisations

Role and fuctioning of central police organisations


Criminal justice organizations, administration and management

Criminal justice organizations, administration and management

Such people as legal advisors in police organizations or treatment and medical ... Role conflict occurs when an individual is not able to comprehend or ...

The managing of police organizations

The managing of police organizations

1 POLICE MANAGEMENT: The Role and the Values Organizational excellence and ... need to increase the manager's understanding of police organizations so that ...

Essentials of Criminal Justice

Essentials of Criminal Justice

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), a coalition The National ... rather than embrace new and truly innovative changes.3 THE POLICE ROLE ...

Casual Walkthroughs Directory


POLICE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT - Course Home Page
The course examines the role, functions and purpose of the police organization and management structure. ... then, with the subtopics included in the module. ...

Prevention: Police Role - Conclusion - Crime, Policing ...
Modern police organizations were established to prevent and respond to crime. ... sources, the police continue to play an important role in its implementation. ...

Prevention: Police Role - Environmental Criminology ...
Prevention: Police Role - Environmental Criminology, Community Crime Prevention, ... Police organizations around the world are now experimenting with new ...

ROLE OF THE POLICE
Although perceptions of the role of police are changing, crime control and order maintenance are ... Police organizations will operate much like private organizations, with a ...

A RESILIENT POLICE ORGANIZATION, by John Violanti
The police organization defines the context within which officers ... Leaders play a central role in developing and sustaining empowering environments. ...