NCJ Number
122932
Date Published
Unknown
Length
70 pages
Annotation
The use of tape recorded conversations in criminal investigations is examined in terms of the gathering of information, its evaluation for usefulness, and its analysis for meaning.
Abstract
Surreptitious tape recordings have been used for more than a decade and have major implications for both intelligence gathering and trial practice. Tape recordings can provide primary evidence of a criminal event. However, questions about the adequacy, completeness, methodology, and interpretation can cause evaluators to reject the evidence. Multiple listenings are essential in the analysis of a tape. The analysis should focus on such factors as context, clarity, contamination caused by government agents, and the quality of the taping. It should also consider the social, psychological, and cultural factors that influence a person's use of language. Those who analyze the data should also inform those collecting it about its quality so that intelligence collectors can modify their procedures, gather more data, or stop the operation. Sample conversations and 16 references