Thanks, I’ll have to check it out tomorrow!

There are some small-time criminals who constantly rat to the police. They do so for good reason: they get favorable treatment and they can practice their “lifestyle” however they want. This seems to be a rather dirty deal: 1) the cops have a snitch that commits some crime but “helps” them; and 2) the criminal practices their crimes but betrays people. This works out “fine” (and by “fine” I mean “brings about the downfall of society”), until a new cop comes on the job.

A new cop might not understand the “relationship.” These relationships are a lot more complex than can usually be conveyed in a short police report or a 1 or 2 page memo. For example, there may be an understanding that the snitch cannot and will not try and inform on certain kinds of people. (But a new cop wouldn’t be privy to this part of the analysis.) Yes, certain written protections are afford some (but not all) snitches, but they usually don’t kick in until after an arrest is made.

So, look at the situation we are in: there are defendants out there whose “snitching” is long term and in return for a virtual license to practice a kind of crime. Granted, these crimes are usually “victimless” crimes (i.e. prostitution, small-time drug manufacturer, unlicensed gambling). is this really helping society?

All in all, it is sad that we are going down this road, and we need to explore the exact means by which people snitch, but I guess we are already on it and we need to seriously think about it.

And, I am with Norm: Representing clients does not mean waging a war against the government. Lawyers must do the best they can for them. But lawyers also must be aware that the government will screw up and might put their clients at serious risk of harm.