NCJ Number
84329
Date Published
1981
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Aspects of managing investigations into public corruption include the security of the investigation, records maintenance, examination of reports, use of informants and 'turned' suspects, use of undercover investigators, consent recordings, the use of auditor investigators, and the investigative grand jury.
Abstract
In ensuring the security of an investigation into public corruption, attention should be given to the physical security of the investigative headquarters and to the integrity of the investigative team. Basic files will include name cards, address cards, license plate cards, and telephone number cards. Investigative reports should be examined daily by the supervising investigator, the intelligence officer, and the case attorney. The chain of custody tapes used in consent recordings and in connection with court-ordered eavesdropping should be sequentially numbered, and only virgin tapes should be used. In using informants, the two most important rules are to exercise control over the informant and keep promises made to the informant. Should attempts be made to have persons who are part of the conspiracy become agents, ideally, the least culpable of the offenders and the one in the best position to further the investigation should be approached. A well-placed undercover investigator will not only be able to provide intelligence but may also be able to delay or prevent actions that would do irreparable harm. Because money or something else of value is the common thread in every type of corruption, auditors can be used to find the source of bribe payments, trace the trail of bribe payments, uncover the nature of the fraud, and determine the income created by illegal activities. The use of a grand jury in an investigation is usually the last step taken.