Recent Developments in Undercover Policing - Assignment Example

Undercover Protocols ABSTRACT The assignment is based on providing instructions to two female undercover detectives while they prepare to infiltrate an organization, registered as The Ruckus Society, in order to investigate legitimacy of its operations. As a part of their job role, they are to maintain their undercover status, which arrives at a cost of conducting various misdemeanors and criminal activities. They should also restrain from directly intervening any knowledgeable crime, which can endanger their true identities. Furthermore, various criteria should be followed be them before getting completely involved in the real field of investigation, such as strong mental preparation, acquisition of appropriate skills and ability to deal with various criminal situations. BACKGROUND STORY Undercover police functions are a standard feature of contemporary political territory. Several secret revelations in recent days indicate that environmentalists, anti-nuclear and human & animal rights among other groups are likely to be the target of various surreptitious activities. Such activities can take any form, i.e. from demonstration of supportive activities to training operations in specific organizations. The Ruckus Society is example of one such organization, which is concerned with various defense activities. This organization delivers tools, training and support to the environmental, human rights and social justice coordinators (The Ruckus Society, “About Us”). However, only negligible information has been available regarding the true motives of the organization, i.e. how they operate and how they support various activities among others. Thus, an infiltration has been planned in order to investigate the organization. Accordingly, two female detectives have been chosen in order to go to deep undercover as a part of their investigation. Contextually, when undertaking their investigative activities in The Ruckus Society, they need to maintain certain guidelines. THESIS STATEMENT The key objective of this assignment is to provide instructions to the female detectives when performing their duties as undercover agents. The assignment provides guidance for the female detectives in order to undertake investigation activities without compromising the undercover status. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DETECTIVES Fundamentally, there are two categories of undercover operation that are categorized as deep cover and light cover. A deep cover infiltrator lives the role with widespread skills in undercover work. Deep cover operations are strongly compartmentalized in the investigation of an organization in order to prevent breach of security or leak of information. Deep cover agents are hence equipped with false identification and a unique frame of individual history. The background information of such agents is kept confidential to the truth in order to prevent mistakes. They are usually entitled to perform the undercover role during 24 hours in a day. On the contrary, light cover infiltrator also have false identification, but most probably, they maintain their real life role. Since the two female detectives are going to deep undercover, they would certainly require maintaining their status as well as follow various protocols for 24 hours on a continuous basis (Marx, “Recent Developments in Undercover Policing”). Should the two female Detectives be allowed to commit misdemeanors such as smoking cannabis (marijuana) or shoplifting (petit theft) in order to keep their undercover status from being compromised? From an ethical viewpoint, committing misdemeanors in terms of smoking cannabis or shoplifting may be treated as immoral activities. However, undercover operations necessarily involve deception, which in turn results in the involvement of the detectives in immoral activities. Such activities are intended to maintain the undercover status of the detectives and help collecting secret information about the organization. Thus, from a legal viewpoint the female detectives are required to commit misdemeanors if the situation mandates so to maintain their undercover (Klein 95-107). Should the two female Detectives be allowed to commit felonies such as grand theft or armed robbery in order to keep their undercover status from being compromised? From a legal viewpoint, committing felonies by detectives is regarded as authorized criminality. Although authorized criminality conflict with relation to ethical aspects of policing, the detectives need to involve in such illegal activities so that their undercover status are not compromised. However, authorized criminality depends on certain regulation or guidance. In common situations, the detectives should resist from conducting such activities. As long as possible, their activities should lie within the range of undercover role. However, in extreme circumstances, where the detectives have no choice but to commit felonies in order to maintain undercover identity, there is a legal justification namely ‘public authority defense’, which shields such felonies from criminal liabilities. Furthermore, due procedure of defenses can be raised by offenders, which are targeted in undercover functions (Marx, “Recent Developments in Undercover Policing”). Are the undercover officers compelled to intervene in order to prevent crimes that they have knowledge of ahead of time? This question has its particular ethical and legal sides, as if the undercover detective can intervene in order to prevent crime. From an ethical viewpoint, as a detective, they should prevent the crime, about which they already have knowledge. However, such prevention can generate suspicion regarding their true identities. The work of undercover detectives are quite hazardous and life threatening. Under no circumstance they are allowed to lose their credibility in the organization they are investigating. Hence, from a legal perspective, they should not directly intervene or attempt to stop a crime, as it may hamper their reputation. Rather, if possible, they can contact the trustable person, in order to prevent a knowledgeable crime from occurring (Marx, “Recent Developments in Undercover Policing”). What criteria need to be established ahead of time, before sending the two undercover detectives to their first Ruckus Society training camp? There are multiple criteria required to be established before sending the two undercover detectives to Ruckus Society training camp. Contextually, internal guidelines provides source of possible control on activities that should be conducted during undercover operations. Criteria 1: Undercover detectives are required to involve in authorized crimes for two important reasons, viz. to provide openings for the suspects in order to engage in criminal activity and to maintain false identity as well as to enable access to suspects. However, the detectives might legally involve in crime as along as the conduct helps to fulfil their true objectives (Purpura 166-168). Criteria 2: Although, due to various legal and ethical aspects, the practice of authorized criminality has become necessary for undercover detectives, the situation under which, undercover detectives might involve in crime is infrequently a subject of regulatory oversight (Purpura 166-168). Criteria 3: Undercover detectives also require relinquishing their usual uniforms in order to merge unobtrusively among the suspects. Their real activities are to investigate and observe the activities of the organization as well as the suspected individuals. As a much as possible they need to obtain physical evidences, which are essential in order to successfully prosecute criminals (Purpura 166-168). Criteria 4: In various instances, undercover detectives, who involve in criminal activity, lack the mental condition regarding an applicable crime. Thus, they can risk the criminal liability. Hence, before sending to undercover, there is need to strengthen the mental condition and specific intention of the detectives (Purpura 166-168). Criteria 5: Before sending the detectives to the respective organization, there is also need to confirm certain skills. The key skills, which must be pertinent in any undercover detective, are strong communication, judgment and insightfulness. Technical skills are also required in order to perform various undercover tasks such as use of handcuffs, surveillance tools and computer mapping among others (Purpura 166-168). CONCLUSION The effectiveness of the investigation of the two undercover detectives is subjected to their skills and their abilities to secure a strong trustable position in the organization. Undercover operations are vital tool for police, but the uncontrolled utilization of misleading activities should be concerned as a part of the surveillance tasks. During the operation they are required to maintain their appearance as criminal and at the same time, they should also maintain their ethical values as much as possible. Although, it might not be possible for the two undercover detectives to eliminate authorized criminal activities, they should stay alert regarding the possibility of harm for conducting such activities. Works Cited Klein, Kathleen Gregory. The Woman Detective: Gender & Genre. United States: University of Illinois Press, 1995. Marx, Gary T. Recent Developments in Undercover Policing. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992. Web. 03 Jun. 2014. Purpura, Philip P. Criminal Justice: An Introduction. United States: Elsevier, 1997. Print. “About Us”. Action Speaks Louder Than Words. The Ruckus Society, n.d. Web. 03 Jun. 2014. Read More