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Health and legal issues in undercover narcotics investigations: Misrepresented evidence
Author(s) -
Girodo Michel
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2370030306
Subject(s) - personality psychology , mental health , psychology , coping (psychology) , poison control , social psychology , applied psychology , criminology , medicine , psychiatry , personality , medical emergency
This paper outlines some types of psychological disturbances found to occur in narcotics agents who use undercover investigative methods. Research results and other clinical findings dismiss popular notions of multiple personalities as a mental injury caused by prolonged role played pseudoidentities. Coping strategies for dealing with certain paranoid reactions are seen as potential sources of contamination in the gathering of evidence of criminal activity. Issues related to questions of health versus operative talents in selecting for personal suitability for undercover work are presented.