"The appeal of stings was obvious; catching people on tape makes for very easy prosecutions. Legal restrictions were limited and there was a nearly limitless ability to deceive."
"While the crimes in these operations can be made up, the punishments can be very real. There was then not much room for leniency because of mandatory minimum sentencing laws."
"Alleged criminals would often be lured with a financial reward and cops would target low-income communities and disproportionately target minorities as well as those with mental illnesses or disabilities."
"If you're thinking pressuring untrained civilians into doing the job of undercover cops could end badly, you'd be right about that."
Police stings have evolved over the last four decades, shifting from reactive to proactive law enforcement. These operations often involve deception, targeting individuals in low-income communities and minorities. Examples include predator stings and stash house stings, where non-existent crimes are created. Legal restrictions on coercion have led to increased reliance on deception. The high legal bar for proving entrapment complicates accountability. Confidential informants face pressure to fabricate information, raising concerns about the ethics and effectiveness of these operations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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