SherbyNet - /page/wikibook/entry.mu

Micron Document

<!DOCTYPE html>

<title>Parallel construction</title>

</head>

<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Parallel construction</span></span>

</h1>

</header>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For the linguistic construct, see <a href="Parallelism_(grammar)" title="Parallelism (grammar)">Parallelism (grammar)</a>.</div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style>

<p><b>Parallel construction</b> is a <a href="Law_enforcement" title="Law enforcement">law enforcement</a> process of building a parallel, or separate, evidentiary basis for a criminal <a href="Detective" title="Detective">investigation</a> in order to limit disclosure as to the origins of an investigation.<sup id="cite_ref-Reuters_Shiffman_2013_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Reuters_Shiffman_2013-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>In the US, a particular form is <b>evidence laundering</b>, where one police officer obtains evidence via means that are in violation of the <a href="Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution">Fourth Amendment</a>'s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and then passes it on to another officer, who builds on it and gets it accepted by the court under the <a href="Good-faith_exception" title="Good-faith exception">good-faith exception</a> as applied to the second officer.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This practice gained support after the Supreme Court's 2009 <i><a href="Herring_v._United_States" title="Herring v. United States">Herring v. United States</a></i> decision.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="By_the_United_States_Drug_Enforcement_Administration">By the United States Drug Enforcement Administration</h2></div>

<p>In August 2013, a report by Reuters revealed that the <a href="Drug_Enforcement_Administration" title="Drug Enforcement Administration">Special Operations Division</a> (SOD) of the U.S. <a href="Drug_Enforcement_Administration" title="Drug Enforcement Administration">Drug Enforcement Administration</a> advises DEA agents to practice parallel construction when creating <a href="Criminal_case" class="mw-redirect" title="Criminal case">criminal cases</a> against <a href="Americans" title="Americans">Americans</a> that are based on <a href="NSA_warrantless_surveillance" class="mw-redirect" title="NSA warrantless surveillance">NSA warrantless surveillance</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Reuters_Shiffman_2013_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Reuters_Shiffman_2013-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The use of illegally obtained evidence is generally inadmissible under the <a href="Fruit_of_the_poisonous_tree" title="Fruit of the poisonous tree">fruit of the poisonous tree</a> doctrine.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Two senior DEA officials explained that the reason parallel construction is used is to protect sources (such as undercover agents or informants) or methods in an investigation. One DEA official had told Reuters: "Parallel construction is a law enforcement technique we use every day. It's decades old, a bedrock concept."

</p><p>An example from one official about how parallel construction tips work is being told by Special Operations Division that: "Be at a certain truck stop at a certain time and look for a certain vehicle." DEA would alert state troopers and they may wait for that certain vehicle and use drug searching dogs to identify illegal drug-related activity, giving the appearance the search was conducted randomly.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Parallel construction allows the prosecution building the drug case to hide the source of where the information came from to protect confidential informants or undercover agents who may be involved with the illegal drug operation from endangering their lives.

</p><p>A number of former federal agents had used parallel construction during their careers, according to Reuters interviews. Most of the former agents had defended the practice of parallel construction because, according to them, no falsified evidence or illegally obtained material were presented in courts..

</p><p>A judge can rule evidentiary material inadmissible if it is suspected that the evidence was obtained illegally.

</p><p>Parallel construction in this case in the US usually is the result of tips from the DEA, as well as the Special Operations Division that are derived from sources within foreign governments, intelligence agencies or court-authorized domestic phone recordings. According to a senior law enforcement official and a former US military intelligence official tips are not given to the DEA until citizenship is verified to avoid any illegal wiretapping of US citizens who are abroad. US authorities require a warrant to wiretap domestic US-persons (citizens and non-citizens alike) and to wiretap US citizens who are abroad.<sup id="cite_ref-Reuters_Shiffman_2013_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Reuters_Shiffman_2013-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>The Reuters piece occurred amid reporting of the 2013 <a href="NSA_leaks" class="mw-redirect" title="NSA leaks">NSA leaks</a>, although it made no "explicit connection" to the <a href="Edward_Snowden" title="Edward Snowden">Snowden</a> leaks.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="In_the_United_Kingdom">In the United Kingdom</h2></div>

<p><i><a href="The_Register" title="The Register">The Register</a></i> argues the <a href="Investigatory_Powers_Act_2016" title="Investigatory Powers Act 2016">Investigatory Powers Act 2016</a> introduces parallel construction for evidence obtained through surveillance under the act, and prevents it being revealed or questioned in court.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="In_World_War_II">In World War II</h2></div>

<p>Parallel construction was used to hide the fact that the <a href="Enigma_machine" title="Enigma machine">Enigma machine</a> encryption had been cracked. Operations based on intelligence recovered this way were authorized if there was a plausible alternate means for the data to have been obtained. Many losses were suffered when preventing them would have alerted the Nazis that Enigma had been deciphered.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<ul><li><a href="Exclusionary_rule" title="Exclusionary rule">Exclusionary rule</a></li>

<li><a href="Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution">Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution</a></li>

<li><i><a href="Franks_v._Delaware" title="Franks v. Delaware">Franks v. Delaware</a></i></li>

<li><a href="Money_laundering" title="Money laundering">Money laundering</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div class="reflist">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("./mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("./mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("./mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("./mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><cite id="CITEREFShiffmanCooke,_K.2013" class="citation news cs1">Shiffman, J.; Cooke, K. (2013-08-05). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dea-sod-idUSBRE97409R20130805">"Exclusive: U.S. directs agents to cover up program used to investigate Americans"</a>. Reuters.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-:0-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFLevineIontcheva_TurnerWright2017" class="citation journal cs1">Levine, Kay L.; Iontcheva Turner, Jenia; Wright, Ronald F. (17 May 2017). "Evidence Laundering: How Herring Made Ignorance the Best Detergent". <i>Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology</i>. <b>106</b> (4). <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2139%2Fssrn.2558737">10.2139/ssrn.2558737</a>. <a href="ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1556-5068">1556-5068</a>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFGainesMiller,_L.2006" class="citation book cs1">Gaines, L.; Miller, L. (2006). <i>Criminal Justice In Action: The Core</i>. Belmont, CA: Thomson / Wadsworth. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-495-00305-0</bdi>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFMon2014" class="citation web cs1">Mon, Feb 3rd 2014 11:49am-Mike Masnick (3 February 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140203/11143926078/parallel-construction-revealed-how-dea-is-trained-to-launder-classified-surveillance-info.shtml">"Parallel Construction Revealed: How The DEA Is Trained To Launder Classified Surveillance Info"</a>. <i>Techdirt</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2020-10-23</span></span>.</cite><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{cite web}}</code>: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)</span></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFFung,_B.2013" class="citation news cs1">Fung, B. (2013-08-05). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/08/05/the-nsa-is-giving-your-phone-records-to-the-dea-and-the-dea-is-covering-it-up/">"The NSA is giving your phone records to the DEA. And the DEA is covering it up"</a>. <i>Washington Post</i>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFWilhelm,_A.2013" class="citation news cs1">Wilhelm, A. (2013-08-05). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://techcrunch.com/2013/08/05/dea-repotedly-hiding-nsa-data-used-to-prosecute-us-citizens/">"DEA Reportedly Hiding NSA Data Used To Prosecute U.S. Citizens"</a>. <i>Techcrunch</i>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/12/06/parallel_construction_lies_in_english_courts/">"The UK's Investigatory Powers Act allows the State to tell lies in court"</a>. <i><a href="The_Register" title="The Register">The Register</a></i>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/times-allies-didnt-use-enigma.html">"Keeping Enigma Secret From The Germans – Many Lives Were Lost Sacrificed Doing So"</a>. 22 January 2019.</cite></span>

</li>

</ol></div></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2></div>

<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/09/us-secret-evidence-erodes-fair-trial-rights">US: Secret Evidence Erodes Fair Trial Rights</a> by <a href="Human_Rights_Watch" title="Human Rights Watch">Human Rights Watch</a> (January 9, 2018)</li></ul></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-07-14" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Parallel_construction&oldid=1300466863">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

</div>

</div></div>

</div>

</main>

</div>

</body></html>