Is Recording Conversations Without Consent Legal?

[Pengwuino]

Does anyone know if recording a conversation with someone in a room is illegal? My mother's boss openly threatened another woman in the office (wow these women are evil!) and i was wondering if it would be legal to try to record the conversation and send it to the police? Its obviously not enough to say "hey she threatened me" because it would be 'her word vs her word' so i was wondering if maybe the woman could go up to her again and record the conversation and see if she's threatened and record it.

 

[hypatia]

Yes you can, as long as its not over the phone lines. Remember Watergate?

 

[Pengwuino]

Too young :D

What would be the best device to record her conversation? I saw this interesting pen-mic recorder for like $250 that's 36db and can "pick up a conversation up to 10' away".

 

[hypatia]

I'd just use a small, voice activated recorder. Might find one for less then 40 bucks, and better ones for 100. And just leave it on the table/desk. Some times things are best hidden in plain sight.

 

[Pengwuino]

Naa, that won't work. It need sot be something she can bring in with her and leave with. She'd have to be going into her office for the conversation.

 

[hypatia]

Then go with the pen.
Sadly in most states, threating to harm someone is not a crime. It might be enough to get a PPO against them. It would be better to take this information to the company owner.