מדובב משטרתי

13:50 Jul 15, 2020
This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer

Hebrew to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general) / Criminal Law
Hebrew term or phrase: מדובב משטרתי
There is a 'profession' in Israel where the police place someone on their behalf in a holding cell with other people who are undergoing questioning. These people pretend to be hardened criminals (sometimes they ARE actually hardened criminals) and they try to wrangle information out of people undergoing investigations. What is the term in English - if there is one? Or as similar a term as possible.
Frank Mayers
Israel
Local time: 03:34


Summary of answers provided
4 +1Jailhouse informant/snitch/canary
REUVEN COHEN
4undercover officer in jail
David Greenberg
3rat (slang)/informer - canary - squealer
Sergio Kot
2Mr Big
Amir Gavriely


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Jailhouse informant/snitch/canary


Explanation:
The official term for those used by law enforcement to gain the confidence of criminals and report back to the police/authorities is 'jailhouse informant'. Of course, there are a number of less official terms such as snitch/rat/stoolie/squealer/snout (UK).
The term 'canary' is sometimes used as birds 'sing' and this is the verb often used in underworld slang in reference to snitching to the police.

REUVEN COHEN
Israel
Local time: 03:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sergio Kot: Sorry Reuven, I was not aware of your post. Cheers!
3 hrs
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25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
Mr Big


Explanation:
This is a similar technique, that was common in Canada. it may give you some ideas towards what you are looking for - see the WP article


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Big_(police_procedure)
Amir Gavriely
Canada
Local time: 20:34
Native speaker of: Native in HebrewHebrew
PRO pts in category: 60
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
rat (slang)/informer - canary - squealer


Explanation:
Options. Plenty of choices. See refs.


    https://www.morfix.co.il/%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%A9%D7%9F
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informant#Terminology_and_slang
Sergio Kot
Israel
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in HebrewHebrew, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 65
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
undercover officer in jail


Explanation:
Hi, Frank. Customize per context. I've looked at pages about Illinois v. Perkins, which is the major US case on the subject, and I haven't found a specialized term. I imagine that there is an informal English term somewhere or other, but the Hebrew term appears to be formal, and I assume that if there were an accepted formal English term, it would be in evidence.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2020-07-15 18:09:18 GMT)
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I'd be wary of making up a term for a concept that isn't novel in the target language. I wouldn't use "informant," because that normally refers to someone who doesn't belong to the given organization. Better to write "undercover police officer" or such, and provide the prison cell context if and when necessary.

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Note added at 18 hrs (2020-07-16 08:31:15 GMT)
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"Plant" would work, but only in an informal context, which I think this is not. (Keep in mind that the word is מדובב, i.e., one who causes to talk, rather than דובב, i.e., one who talks.)

David Greenberg
Israel
Local time: 03:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 281
Notes to answerer
Asker: Yes. I am starting to realize that there is no direct English term. At least none that our colleagues or my research has found. I am thinking of something like "placed informant". Something along those lines. Maybe "police informant". What do you think?

Asker: On another list i have been proffered with the proposal of a "plant'. I like this option since it refers to the fact that is a pre-arranged thing. I think this is the option that I am going to plumb for. Maybe I will use "police plant". Still - it does not touch sides on a rather remarkable Hebrew word - dovev. So evocative in Hebrew - so descriptive. Just gotta love it!

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