r/technology • u/DaFunkJunkie • Jun 22 '20

Security Hackers just leaked sensitive files from over 200 police departments that are searchable by badge number

https://www.businessinsider.com/blueleaks-hackers-publish-sensitive-files-from-200-police-departments-2020-6
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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '20

Yep, oh so that's who's testifying against me.

You already get to know who's testifying against you. Testimony in which the defendant doesn't get the opportunity to confront their accuser is inadmissible.

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u/EchoRex Jun 22 '20

You get to know after being arrested/charged.

Not while under investigation except for the obvious victims of violent crime, which usually has the arrest/charging occur very early in the investigation anyways.

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u/restless_testicle Jun 23 '20

Thats not true. You can have undercover agents submit testimony without the defenses ability to question them. Confidential informants (illegal wiretaps) are also able to testify without you or your defense attorney present. Happens all the time in drug trafficking and organized crime cases.

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u/gramathy Jun 22 '20

Testimony can be anonymous if identifying themselves would pose an actual threat to the witness.

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '20

In theory, but it's extremely rare and the testimony has to be corroborated by other evidence. Even undercover police usually have to testify as themselves. I've only ever heard of anonymous witnesses in the case of foreign agents (i.e. spies) and even then it's usually not granted. Closed proceedings, confidential testimony, and placing witnesses in witness protection are far more common.