Parents Seek “Rachel’s Law”
January 8th, 2009 by Mike VasilindaThe parents of a slain 23 year old woman who was killed acting as a confidential informant when a drug deal went bad are pushing legislation to protect future informants.
Rachel Hoffman was allegedly killed by two drug dealers after police lost sight of her during a drug sting and her wire was discovered. Irv Hoffman and former wife Margie Weiss say future informants need protections. “The death of our daughter was tragic and needless,: said Irv Hoffman. “Rachel’s Law is our way of honoring Rachel’s memory by taking steps to ensure tragedies like this never happen again.”
“She was put in a very dangerous, very unhealthy, just terrible situation,” Irv Hoffman said. “She just had no choice. I think she was coerced to do something that she thought was basically going to save her from any incarceration. So, we want rules. We want laws. We want checks and balances.”
The legislation filed by Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey requires a written contract between police and informants and any deal needs the okay of a State Attorney. It also requires police to give potential informants a full opportunity to talk with a lawyer.
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