What is an informant? Discuss role conflict in regard to using juveniles as informants. Do you agree or disagree with the practice? Explain
What will be an ideal response?
? Informants are individuals who have access to criminal networks and who, under conditions of anonymity, provide information to authorities in exchange for money or special treatment.
? Police rely on informants, both adult and juvenile, to obtain evidence to make arrests in serious cases that the police may otherwise not be able to solve, such as gun and drug trafficking.
? Juvenile informants are also used in less serious cases where age is important to the crime—for example, when retailers sell cigarettes or alcohol to minors.
? Police must balance the need to obtain evidence and the vulnerabilities of (and extra safeguards that are needed for) juveniles in these cases.
? As criminologist Mary Dodge notes, there is a need for a higher degree of scrutiny in the use of juvenile police informants and this practice should not be warranted in all circumstances.
? Student views will vary.
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Indicate whether the statement is true or false
The most common drug test presently in use by employers is
a. the breathalyzer. b. blood testing. c. use of hair samples. d. urine testing.
Thirteen-year-old Carl is arrested for raping a five-year-old girl. He appears for an adjudicatory hearing, in which the presiding judge analyzes the evidence presented against Carl. Which of the following is to be determined by the judge in this hearing?
A. Whether Carl has already been adjudicated in another juvenile court B. Whether Carl is delinquent or in need of court supervision C. Whether Carl is psychologically sound D. Whether Carl has a prior criminal record
Once a prosecutor decides to pursue a case, they cannot decide to drop the charges later but must take the case to trial.
Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)