S.J. Quinney College of Law professor Carissa Hessick published an op-ed in the January 27, 2016 edition of The New York Times titled, “Law Enforcement Alone Shouldn’t Decide When to Use a Pornography Website to Snare Predators.” Hessick addresses the legality of the operation of a child pornography website by the FBI to ensnare predators.
The F.B.I. appears to have committed a more serious crime — the distribution of child pornography — to catch people committing less serious crimes: the receipt and possession of child pornography. Usually, the justification for officers committing illegal acts is to prevent a greater evil.