What is the federal criminal justice system's approach to electronic surveillance?

The federal criminal justice system typically employs electronic surveillance to monitor criminal activity. Electronic surveillance gathers evidence, such as recordings of conversations, which can be used in criminal proceedings. In Texas, electronic surveillance is regulated by the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). This law prohibits the interception of electronic communications with the intent to commit a crime or with fraudulent or malicious intent. The federal courts have generally accepted the use of electronic surveillance as a tool of evidence gathering. This has been supported by the Supreme Court’s ruling in Katz v. U.S., which stated that electronic surveillance was in the same category as tangible evidence and warranted the same Fourth Amendment protection from unreasonable searches and seizures as tangible evidence. In addition, the federal criminal justice system has also adopted the Wiretap Act of 1968. This law requires law enforcement officers to obtain a search warrant in order to conduct electronic surveillance. This act is designed to protect citizens’ privacy by ensuring that law enforcement officers only monitor private conversations for a legitimate purpose, with the necessary permission. Overall, the federal criminal justice system’s approach to electronic surveillance is guided by the laws and rulings outlined above. Electronic surveillance is used as a tool to help collect evidence, but its use is monitored to ensure that it is not used for improper purposes. The laws and rulings put in place seek to ensure that the rights of citizens are respected while monitoring criminal activity.

What is the federal criminal justice system's approach to electronic surveillance?

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