Crime & Law Enforcement Issues & Death Penalty/Illegal Internet Use

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Expert: - 2/23/2006


Question
Hello:

No! I'm just curious.

I have never been to a child pornography site because they are illegal. I really do not know how to get to one. I occasionally hear on the news or read in the newspaper that people are charged with this type of crime.  
How would someone know whether or not the government is monitoring his Internet usage?

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Followup To
Question -
Hello:

An illegal Internet site, for example, is a child pornography site.   
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Followup To
Question -
Hello:

How do authorities know that someone is at or was at an illegal Internet site?

I thank you for your reply.
Answer -
    What is an "illegal Internet site"?
Answer -

    Are you suspicious that the government is monitoring your Internet usage?

Answer
    The government can't monitor your Internet usage without the cooperation of your ISP.  The would then be able to get a printout of what sites you visit and who you email, etc.  But there has to be something that would cause law enforcement to begin the surveillance in the first place.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

Please do NOT ask questions about potential jail sentences that you or your friends may receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer or a parole officer so questions about those subjects will be rejected. I am a police officer with 26 years experience. Can answer questions about crime, police procedure, investigations, criminal law, search and seizure, traffic offenses. Prefer not to answer questions on the death penalty. Please do not ask homework questions. Remember this. The law in every state is different so questions about laws that are specific to your state could be difficult to answer. I also cannot give you legal advice on what to do or not to do in court. I have worked with authors in the past and will be happy to review scenarios or plots with authors to check for believability or accuracy.

Experience

Police officer with 26 years experience. Ten years in patrol and sixteen years in the detective bureau investigating every type of crime including murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, missing persons, etc, etc. Also taught at the police academy in areas such as constitutional law, search and seizure, and lineups.

Education/Credentials
B.S. in Criminology from the University of Maryland.

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