Wiretaps in U.S. Jump 19 Percent in 2004

[clevfan]

Wiretaps in U.S. Jump 19 Percent in 2004

By DEVLIN BARRETT
Associated Press Writer

April 28, 2005, 11:25 AM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The number of secret court-authorized wiretaps across the country surged by 19 percent last year, according to court records which also showed that not a single application was denied.

State and federal judges approved 1,710 applications for wiretaps of wire, oral or electronic communications last year, and four states -- New York, California, New Jersey and Florida -- accounted for three out of every four surveillance orders, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. That agency is required to collect the figures and report them to Congress.

The numbers, released Thursday, do not include court orders for terror-related investigations under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which reached a record 1,754 warrants last year, according to the Justice Department.

In non-terrorist criminal investigations, federally-approved wiretaps increased 26 percent in a year, to 730 applications, while state judges approved 930 wiretaps, an increase of 13 percent.

Officials said most of the applications, some 1,308, were for drug investigations, while racketeering or gambling wiretaps accounted for a combined 128 wiretaps around the country.

Homicides and assaults produced 48 wiretap orders.

Most of the wiretap applications, some 1,507 wiretaps, targeted portable devices, such as cell phones and pagers.

By the end of the year, the surveillance had generated 4,506 arrests and 634 convictions based on wiretap evidence.

Federal and state judges are required to file a written report about each application within 30 days of the expiration of the court order.

[BuzzRavanaugh]

Can cell phones be swept??

Interesting read.

[ronbets]

Perhaps easier Buzz. Nextel direct was the last to succumb. US went bitching to the manufacterer for schematics to intercept.

You can be heard anywhere with or without court authorization.

[BuzzRavanaugh]

Thats why I use those pre paid phones use them and dispose them.

[ronbets]

The problems with intercepted communication is context and jjgold type bullshit. The good stuff like donations and charitable work is left on the editing floor.

[BuzzRavanaugh]

Yesterday coming back from the track I witnessed a wreck, so I called 911- took them 4 minutes to answer, glad I didn't need anything important or my life was in peril.

[timmy]

if you're not doing/saying anything illegal, whats the problem?


americans just need to worry about keeping their noses clean and not whether someone might be listening to their phone conversations..



wait till the next wave of planes fly into a few american landmarks, kill a few thousand, then you'll hear all the people complaining about how the govt didnt do enough to prevent it... what a joke!

[count zero]

Golly, you're so right, timmy. And so in tune with the times! Jeepers, I'm going to give Mom a big kiss and have some of her great apple pie before I go down to the soda shoppe to hold hands with my best girl Betty.

[Ironlock]

Originally posted by: count zero
Golly, you're so right, timmy. And so in tune with the times! Jeepers, I'm going to give Mom a big kiss and have some of her great apple pie before I go down to the soda shoppe to hold hands with my best girl Betty.

LOL.

Timmy, try reading the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights some time. Maybe supposedly inailienable rights being violated by the neo-fascist U.S. government doesn't bother you. But it certainly disturbs me.

[Ironlock]

Originally posted by: reno
Timmy, try reading the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights some time. Maybe supposedly inailienable rights being violated by the neo-fascist U.S. government doesn't bother you. But it certainly disturbs me.

Well, Reno, we agree on something.

[timmy]

glad i could help bring you two homo's together...

[ronbets]

Originally posted by: timmy
glad i could help bring you two homo's together...

This is jjgold's meaning of "quanity" or is it "quality" posts.