NCJ Number
187362
Journal
Journal of Juvenile Law Volume: 20 Dated: 1999 Pages: 108-126
Editor(s)
Tonya K. Cole
Date Published
1999
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article examines the implications in using juveniles as undercover informants.
Abstract
The article discusses the possible delinquency issue involved with the use of juveniles as undercover informants. It is often the children who have no prior involvement with law enforcement that are utilized. The discussion focuses on the violation of the substantive due process rights of juveniles involved in undercover activity that results in injury or death of the child. Using juveniles as undercover informants may be helpful to society but it is detrimental to the child. The best interest of the child should be at the forefront of any decision to use a juvenile as an undercover informant. Most of the cases discussed in this article, the crimes were divertable and at most subjected the youth to a short detention term. The legislature should require law enforcement to show that there is no other available method of capture and the suspects’ continued presence on the streets poses a grave and immediate danger to the juvenile and therefore the society at large. The child’s safety outweighs the potential benefit to society. Society is no better than the suspects that law enforcement attempts to capture when a troubled child is forced to choose between detention and the risk of serious physical harm, maybe even death.