WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- Courts authorized 25 percent more wiretaps in 2001 as compared to the year before, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts said Thursday.
State courts, as opposed to federal courts, accounted for almost all the increase as law enforcement attempted to deal with drug trafficking.
The Administrative Office said U.S. judges approved a 1 percent increase in wiretaps last year -- for a total of 486. In contrast, state judges in 24 states approved 1,005 wiretaps in 2001 -- an increase of 49 percent compared to 2000.
Drug investigations accounted for 78 percent of all wiretap applications last year.
Although their number increased, the average wiretap was in operation for 9 percent fewer days in 2001. The number of communications intercepted per wiretap -- such as telephone calls -- also fell 12 percent.
The average length of an original wiretap authorization, not including extensions, fell to 27 days compared to 28 days in 2000. However, extension applications and approvals rose 9 percent in 2001.
Sixty-eight percent, or 1,007, of all intercepts last year were targeted at a "portable/device carried by/on individual" -- in other words, a cell phone or other wireless device, or a laptop computer.
"Personal residence" was the next most-targeted location with 206 wiretaps; businesses accounted for 4 percent. A phone call was the most common type of communication intercepted. Landline, cellular, cordless and mobile telephones accounted for 83 percent of all wiretaps installed.
Wiretaps were most frequently authorized to investigate drugs, followed by gambling, with racketeering coming in third and homicide/assault fourth.
Of the nearly 1,500 wiretaps authorized in 2001, 1,167 cited drug offenses as the most serious violation under investigation, 82 cited gambling, 70 racketeering and 52 homicide/assault.
As of Dec. 31, 3,683 persons had been arrested based on wiretaps; 732 were convicted last year.
Though the Administrative Office is the administrative branch of the U.S. courts, state as well as federal judges are required to file reports with the AO's director on applications for wiretaps.
