Federal & local wiretapping applications rise 34% from last year.

State and local authorities received more than 3,100 wiretap approvals from judges last year, an increase of 34% above the number of authorizations the previous year, according to a report released today.

Federal judges, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts report said, approved 1,207 wiretaps, and 1,987 were authorized by state judges. Historical data reveal applications are rarely turned down. Only one application was denied in 2010.

Wiretap applications in California, New York and New Jersey accounted for 68% of all state approvals. The report is here and click here for last year's data.

Drug investigations accounted for the majority of wiretap applications, last year. The report said 84% of all wiretaps (2,675) stemmed from drug cases, with homicide and racketeering investigations following. The largest number of state wiretap requests were made in California and in New York.

Link:
http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2011/06/state-federal-wiretap-applications-up-34-.html