Undercover Operation
An undercover operation is an investigation in which law enforcement officers or cooperating individuals conceal their identity or purpose to gather evidence or investigate suspected unlawful activity. Such operations must comply with applicable law and constitutional protections.
An undercover operation is an investigation in which law enforcement officers or cooperating individuals conceal their identity or purpose to gather evidence or investigate suspected unlawful activity. Such operations must comply with applicable law and constitutional protections.
Example: The FBI’s ABSCAM investigation used undercover methods and led to public-corruption prosecutions in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Common misconception: Any undercover operation is entrapment. Entrapment is a specific legal defense; whether it applies depends on the conduct and applicable legal standard.
Sources: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/abscam; https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-645-entrapment