What was the legal status of resurrectionists in the 19th century?

In the 19th century, resurrectionists, or body snatchers, operated in a legal gray area. While grave robbing was illegal, the demand for cadavers for medical research often led to minimal enforcement of laws. Some resurrectionists were prosecuted, but many continued their activities due to the lack of sufficient legal protections for the deceased and the high demand for anatomical study.