Legal Commentary

Albuquerque Police Adverstising for Snitches

By Jeralyn

The Albuquerque Police Department is seeking to hire snitches and placing employment ads in the paper.

The advertisement, which is running in the current Alibi newspaper, seeks criminals willing to snitch on other criminals.

The ad says, "Wanted: People who hang out with crooks to do part time work for APD. Make some extra cash. Drug use and criminal record OK."

The pay is crummy: [More...]

An informant who helps police arrest a drug dealer could earn $50. Someone who leads police to a murderer could pocket up to $700.

Of course, there's an added benefit:

If confidential informants have a warrant out for their arrest, Hudson said they can strike a plea deal with the DAs office to get them off the hook.

Snitch testimony is purchased testimony. Whether bought with money or promises of leniency for the snitch's own misdeeds, it is a practice that makes our criminal justice system morally bankrupt.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on November 22, 2008 (boomark / email).