Confidential informants 6.62 Flashcards
Definition of an informant
- Person who under the direction of a specific deputy
- with or without expectation of compensation
- furnishes info or performs a lawful service of the dept in its investigations and operations
4 types of informants
- Mercenary
- Defendant
- Restricted (juv, INS, probation parol)
- Citizen informant
- Law enforcement
Restricted informants
- 13-17 must have consent from parent/guard
- Probation/parole, must have supervising agent approval
- Illegal must have INS approval
- formally addicted to drugs or in a treatment program
Source of information
Person or organization who provides information, not at the direction of a deputy
When a source becomes an informant
When the source begins to act under the direction of a deputy or expects a form of compensation.
3 Criteria an informant must meet
- Be in a position to provide information present or future
- Will not compromise the Sheriff’s interest
- Must be willing to accept direction
When to contact the DA
Informant committed a felony or defendant informant. DA must approve detail Lt. sign the letter
Contacts with informants
- Professional
- 2 deputies
- Arranged at a safe location
- Documented
- Approved by supervisor
- Face to face
The 10 Informant Rules
- Shall not violate any laws
- No official status as a cop
- Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed
- Cannot carry docs infer they are LE
- Cannot make arrest
- Cannot be armed
- Cant tell anyone they are an informant
- Cant use to resolve personal matters
- Must keep in contact with managing agent
- If false info, criminally prosecuted, civil liable
When can informant confidentiality be guaranteed
Extraordinary cases involving gov proceedings and with dept approval
When can informants not be paid
Pending warrant or indictment
Payments over $5000
require approval of Sheriff or Under-Sheriff
Payment voucher signatures
Informant and two deputies
CI packets are updated how often
Every 90 days, and 2x yr report to A/S
Informant establishment chk list updated
Why black-list an informant
- Endangered LE
- Lied
- Used position to gain intel
- Reveals the existanse of an investigation
