This article explores the integral role of undercover operations and surveillance in the United States criminal justice process. Beginning with a historical overview, the article delineates the evolution of these practices and their milestones, emphasizing their contemporary significance. It delves into the recruitment, training, and ethical considerations surrounding undercover agents, providing insights into the types
Undercover policing is the process by which an officer removes the trappings of his or her office, such as one’s badge, uniform, and presence, in order to engage in sanctioned actions of a quasi-legal or illegal nature to collect evidence on crimes, which may otherwise go undetected by traditional police methods. An undercover officer may
Undercover investigations involve covert means of discovering information based on the actions of a human agent. The agent may be a sworn police officer or an informer with unique access to criminal milieu. The informer may provide information and serve to introduce the police officer to the milieu, in return for leniency, financial benefits, or