POLICE DRAGNETS ARE NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS MOST EFFECTIVELY INFORMED OF POLICE INTENTIONS THROUGH THE MEDIA. BEFORE RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO THE MEDIA, HOWEVER, THE POLICE MUST CAREFULLY WEIGH PUBLIC INTEREST IN CAPTURING THE FUGITIVE AGAINST THE NEED TO PROTECT THE FUGITIVE'S RIGHTS. FOUR PROBLEMS MUST BE CONSIDERED: (1) THE DANGER OF IMITATION CAUSED BY PUBLICITY TO SPECTACULAR CASES; (2) OFFENDERS WHO ARE SPURRED ON TO FURTHER ACTS BY THE PUBLICITY RECEIVED BY OTHER OFFENDERS FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES; AND (4) OFFENDERS, ESPECIALLY TERRORISTS, WHO COMMIT CRIMES FOR THE PROPAGANDA EFFECTS. ALTHOUGH THE PRESS HAS LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC, JOURNALISM IS A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS WHICH MUST RESORT TO SENSATIONALISM TO SELL PAPERS. BUT INFORMATION SHOULD ONLY BE WITHHELD BY THE POLICE FOR A SHORT PERIOD. RELEASE OF MISINFORMATION FOR TACTICAL REASONS IS PERMISSIBLE ONLY WHEN RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISTS COOPERATE. FAILURE TO REPORT DETAILS OF CRIME-SOLVING TECHNIQUES IS JUSTIFIED AS A MEANS OF ASSURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE METHODS. POLICE OPERATIONS WITHOUT THE PUBLIC CANNOT SUCCEED. UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE POLICE EFFORTS, DRAGNETS MAY ENCROACH UPON THE RIGHTS OF SOME PRIVATE CITIZENS. THE MOST DIFFICULT TASK OF THE POLICE IS SEPARATING THE VALUABLE TIPS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC FROM THE NONSENSE. FOR AN ENGLISH SUMMARY TRANSLATION, SEE NCJ