The Role Of Entrapment In The Criminal Justice System

Throughout the history of the criminal justice systems, entrapment has played a big role with police officers. Entrapment is an improper or illegal inducement to crime by agents of the law enforcement, also a defense that may be raised when such inducements have occurred (Schmalleger). “Governmental bribe of criminal movement is usually viewed as essential for effective law enforcement. Especially when the government is seeking to prosecute persons engaged in crimes committed in secret among willing participants, for example; drug offenses, bribery, receipt of stolen property, and trafficking in pornography”(Carlson p.614). These are some of the movements police officers would try to bribe criminals to get involved in. To avoid claims of entrapment, officers must not engage in any kind of activity that would cause a person to commit a crime that he or she would not otherwise commit (Schmalleger). Entrapment has played a big role in the criminal justice system and it is very important. The entrapment defense was established by the U.S Supreme Court in 1932, during the decision in Sorrells v. United States (Carlson p. 614). Carlson states that “Sorrells was…show more content…
Carlson, C. J. “Entrapment.” Encyclopedia of crime and punishment: Thousand oaks, California: Sage publication. vol. 2. 2002. Print. 2. Marcus, P. (2002). Entrapment. In J. Dressler (Ed.), Encyclopedia of crime and justice (2nd ed., Vol. 2, pp 619-623).New York: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.library.genesee.edu/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=gencc_main&tabID=T003&searchId=R7&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=3&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3403000108&&docId=GALE|CX3403000108&docType=GALE&role= 3. Schmalleger, F. (2004). Criminal Justice: A brief introduction. Pearson Education,