Most people do not know what this is unless they have done some research on it or a criminal defense attorney, prosecutor or judge practicing criminal defense on a daily basis.

It could also be defendant or family member who is facing a criminal case , a lot of them are murder cases, attempted murder cases — where there's a Perkins witness.

Planting Someone in a Jail Cell

Basically, what it is, is law enforcement will plant somebody in a jail cell were the target/defendant is and they need to try to get some sort of a statement from that person in order to prosecute them for the criminal case. That person could either be:

• a fellow gang member,
• it could be a law enforcement officer, or
• it could just be somebody who is in jail and they are trying to score points with the police or prosecutors to try to help themselves in a criminal case.

What they do is send them in there, they give them some instructions and then they either plant a tape recorder on that person or they put that person in a room with the defendant that has audio or sometimes even video capability.

Usually not, but sometimes, and then they have that person start asking questions or start telling the target what they're in there for.

They really fluff things up — say a bunch of different stuff — hoping that person will then say why they're in there — I'm in here for this — I did that.

They'll start to try to talk to them and get them to answer questions about their crime, and then they'll tape record it and/or they'll use a law enforcement officer to testify to what the person told them.

Induce Incriminating Statements

Now, not only do they have whatever evidence they have in the case, they have a statement from the person about the case.

Believe it or not, these Perkins informants, under most circumstances, are lawful and the police can use these tactics.

In fact, they use them all the time to try to get a conviction in a criminal case in Los Angeles and throughout California and the United States.

So, if you or a loved one is charged with murder or attempted murder or any crime where they've used a Perkins informant, obviously you're going to want to get an attorney who can:

• (1) try to attack that informant — see if it was done illegally; and/or
• (2) possibly try to get around the Perkins informant depending on exactly what was said, what the circumstances are.

Sometimes people say and claim things because they're just bragging and they really didn't have anything to do with whatever it is they claim.

Sometimes they do it because they want to fit in with the other person so they don't do anything to them because they believe they're not in there for anything serious and the other person is in there for something serious.

Contact a Criminal Lawyer for Help

Whatever the case may be, these Perkins informants are very effective for law enforcement and the police and you and your loved one is going to need a criminal defense attorney who has a lot of experience.

I've been doing this for almost 30 years as a criminal defense attorney.  I've worked for the DA's office early in my career.

I've worked for a Superior Court Judge as his right-hand man, researching issues and since 1994, I've been a criminal defense attorney defending people just like you.

Pick up the phone.  Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding.  I stand at the ready to help you.

Hedding Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436.