Snitching: Criminal Informants and the Erosion of American Justice, Second Edition

Snitching exposes the secretive, inaccurate, and often violent ways that the American criminal system works, revealing how informant deals generate unreliable evidence, allow serious criminals to escape punishment, endanger the innocent, and exacerbate distrust between police and poor communities of color.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

The American criminal system operates in secretive, inaccurate, and often violent ways, as revealed by the cases of Curtis Flowers, Kathryn Johnston, and Rachel Hoffman. These tragedies are a result of snitching, a practice that is largely invisible to the public but plays a significant role in shaping the legal system. Police rely on criminal suspects to obtain warrants, conduct surveillance, and justify arrests. Prosecutors negotiate with defendants for information and cooperation, offering to drop charges or lighten sentences in exchange.

In her book "Snitching," Alexandra Natapoff provides a comprehensive analysis of this powerful and problematic practice. She demonstrates how informant deals generate unreliable evidence, allow serious criminals to escape punishment, endanger the innocent, and exacerbate distrust between police and poor communities of color.

First published over ten years ago, "Snitching" has become known as the "informant bible," a leading text for advocates, attorneys, journalists, and scholars. This influential book has helped free the innocent, fueled reform at the state and federal level, and has been frequently featured in high-profile media coverage of snitching debacles.

This updated edition contains a decade worth of new stories, new data, new legislation and legal developments, much of it generated by the book itself and by Natapoff's own work. In clear, accessible language, the book exposes the social destruction that snitching can cause in heavily-policed Black neighborhoods and how using criminal informants renders our justice system ineffective.

The use of informants in the criminal justice system raises several ethical concerns. One of the primary concerns is the reliability of the evidence obtained through informant deals. Informants may provide false information or withhold important details, leading to wrongful convictions and the imprisonment of innocent individuals.

Furthermore, the practice of snitching can undermine the trust between police and the communities they serve. When police rely on informants to gather information, they may be perceived as betraying the community's trust and creating a sense of resentment and hostility. This can lead to a breakdown in community policing, as police are less likely to engage with residents and build relationships that can help prevent crime.

In addition to these ethical concerns, the use of informants can have broader social consequences. Snitching can create a culture of fear and suspicion within communities, as individuals may be afraid to come forward with information or to assist law enforcement in investigations. This can lead to a lack of cooperation and information sharing, making it more difficult for police to solve crimes and protect the public.

Despite these concerns, the use of informants remains a common practice in the criminal justice system. Police departments rely on informants to gather information and solve crimes, and prosecutors use informants to negotiate deals and secure convictions. However, there are efforts to address these issues and improve the use of informants.

One approach is to increase the use of independent witnesses and surveillance techniques to gather evidence. This can help reduce the reliance on informants and improve the accuracy and reliability of the evidence obtained. Additionally, efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the criminal justice system can help build trust between police and the communities they serve.

Another approach is to provide greater protections for informants who come forward with information. This can include legal protections against retaliation and protections for their safety and well-being. However, it is important to balance these protections with the need to ensure that informants are not used to obstruct justice or to harm innocent individuals.

In conclusion, the use of informants in the criminal justice system raises several ethical concerns and has broader social consequences. While informants can be a valuable tool for law enforcement, it is important to ensure that the evidence obtained through informant deals is reliable, that the practice of snitching does not undermine trust between police and the communities they serve, and that informants are protected from retaliation and harm. By addressing these issues and improving the use of informants, we can work towards a more just and effective criminal justice system.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479807697