RE: PRETEXT conversations as an investigative tool

[John Polstra <JPolstra@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Are these PRETEXT conversations initiated by the District Attorney's office
in California?  I'm wondering if probable cause needs to be established and
a permission to record the call given by a judge to facilitate the process.
Here in Indiana we have a number of Family Advocacy Centers set-up to
coordinate activity between all phases of a sexual abuse investigation that
often involves the local police, CPS, the DA's office and trained
investigators.  Establishing the legality of PRETEXT conversations may be a
relatively efficient process if all the investigative parties were in close
cooperation at the time of the investigation.  I would be interested to know
how PRETEXT conversations are set-up in California


John Polstra, MSW, LCSW
YES Supervisor
Jpolstra@kidwrap.org

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Ron Kokish [mailto:ron@delko.net] 
Sent:	Friday, August 17, 2001 12:52 PM
To:	Child Maltreatment Researchers
Subject:	RE: PRETEXT conversations as an investigative tool

It is definitely legal in California.  I have evaluated countless men who
were arrested and convicted with this kind of evidence.

***************************************************************************
 Ron Kokish at Delson-Kokish Associates, P.O. Box 476, Trinidad, CA 95570
        Clinical and Forensic Evaluations, Consultation & Training
                 (707) 677-3181 voice        677-0187 fax
                 ron@delko.net email         www.delko.net
***************************************************************************


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu
[mailto:owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu]On Behalf Of Jim
Hord
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 7:30 AM
To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
Subject: Re: PRETEXT conversations as an investigative tool


I believe that you will find that is illegal.  You cannot record someone's
conversation without their permission in most states, to my knowledge.  Some
states include the tag, "one party knowledge", but I am not sure how that
works.

Jim H.

> Hi there,
>
>  The ensuing conversation
> is recorded without the suspects' knowledge and utilized as evidence.