2004 Wiretap Report [for the period January 1 through December 31, 2004], Administrative Office of the United States Courts, April 28, 2005 [reporting that wiretaps increased by 19 percent in 2004, with federal and state judges approving 1,710 applications while denying none]. Excerpt:

A total of 1,710 intercepts authorized by federal and state courts were completed in 2004, an increase of 19 percent compared to the number terminated in 2003. The number of applications for orders by federal authorities rose 26 percent to 730. The number of applications reported by state prosecuting officials grew 13 percent to 980, with 19 state jurisdictions providing reports, four fewer than in 2003, but equal to the number for 2002. Wiretaps installed were in operation an average of 43 days per wiretap in 2004 compared to 44 days in 2003. The average number of persons whose communications were intercepted increased from 116 per wiretap order in 2003 to 126 per order in 2004. The average percentage of intercepted communications that were incriminating was 21 percent in 2004, compared to 33 percent in 2003.

Read the full text of the report. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.