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SoCal Connected

Orange County Snitch Program Jeopardizes Justice

For decades, the Orange County Sheriff and the District Attorney have used jailhouse "snitches" to collect incriminating information on jailed defendants. The snitches cooperate with law enforcement in exchange for reduced sentences. But as the Orange County Register reports, much of the snitch program was discovered to be illegal because defendants’ attorneys were not informed that informants were gathering information on their clients.

The missteps and misconduct has derailed, overturned and re-opened numerous criminal cases. The most famous case effected by this scandal is that of Scott Dekraai. Dekraai is the admitted killer of eight people at a hair salon in Seal Beach in 2011. Despite his guilty plea, Dekraai was placed in a cell next to an informant without Dekraai’s attorney being informed. His sentencing has been delayed for years.

How far is law enforcement willing to go and what are the repercussions of using jailhouse informants? The Orange County Register takes you “Inside the Snitch Tank.”

Featuring Interviews With:

Alexandra Natapoff, author, “Snitching”
Tony Saavedra, OC Register investigative reporter

Support Provided By

City of Fullerton police cars in a parking lot | Still from SoCal Connected's "The Fight to Know"

27:55

Season 10 Episode 1108

The Fight to Know

In 2019, California, one of the nation’s most secretive states when it comes to police files, put SB1421 into effect. But a year into the new transparency law, journalists and the public are realizing that the law may not be as transparent as expected.

27:50

Season 10 Episode 1107

Fire Station 9

Take a rare behind-the-scenes look inside the busiest fire station in the country, where firefighters act as both primary care providers and emergency responders for the nearly 5,000 people living on Skid Row.

Marijuana plants with law enforcement officers behind it | Still from SoCal Connected "Cannabis Country"

27:20

Season 10 Episode 1106

Cannabis Country

State and local regulators are overwhelmed and outgunned when it comes to closing down California’s poisonous pot pipeline.

Students sit at a desk | Still from SoCal Connected's "Under Pressure"

28:20

Season 10 Episode 1105

Under Pressure

Parents are willing to spend thousands to get the competitive edge in the college admissions process, but at what cost? Socal Connected takes a revealing look at the high stakes world of the for-profit education consultant business.

Girl in foreground stretching, with teammates stretching behind her | Still from "Born to Run", SoCal Connected

27:20

Season 10 Episode 1104

Born to Run

Socal Connected looks at what happened to LA Jets’ Obea Moore and the current state of youth track and field today.

Private Property sign in foreground with beach behind it | Still from "Access Denied" on SoCal Connected

26:11

Season 10 Episode 1103

Access Denied

An investigation reveals how the state and many cities have let developers get away for decades with not paying their fair share when they replace affordable lodging with luxury hotels up and down California’s coast.

Two people hugging at memorial with photo of deceased next to them | Still from SoCal Connected, "Who Killed Josiah?", Courtesy Mark McKenna

28:43

Season 10 Episode 1102

Who Killed Josiah?

A Humboldt town is polarized over allegations of racism and police incompetence surrounding the death of college student Josiah Lawson.

Recycling center employees sorting through materials | Still from SoCal Connected episode, "Life in Plastic: California's Recycling Woes"

26:36

Season 10 Episode 1101

Life In Plastic: California’s Recycling Woes

As California deals with the fallout of a global waste crisis, plastic manufacturers continue to spread misleading information about recycling, while spending big on lobbying efforts to keep their products on the shelves.

26:20

Season 9 Episode 1010

Jazz City

For decades Los Angeles has lived in the shadows of New York and Chicago when it comes to the jazz, but that's now changing. LA's jazz scene is on the upswing. Meet the people, places and sounds that are putting LA jazz back on the map.

25:52

Season 9 Episode 1009

It's Not Easy Being Green

Chopped down trees, unspent money, building homes thirty feet from the freeway: Is the city of Los Angeles falling down on the job when it comes to certain environmental policies? Socal Connected investigates.