Informants and Undercover funds Flashcards
Under what circumstances can an informant be used in an audio and/or visual transmitter capacity?
When an exception is considered with any active investigation, following General Order series 75-04 Surveillance.
What directive prohibits informants from carrying weapons while acting in an informant capacity?
Informants are not permitted to carry weapons as per the guidelines.
When can informants possess controlled substances while acting in an informant capacity?
Only if failure to do so would endanger the informant’s life.
What precautions are taken prior to controlled buys with informants involving controlled substances?
Informants are searched to prevent allegations of impropriety.
Are informants allowed to search any person, place, or personal effects of others?
No, informants are not permitted to perform searches in any situation.
What activities must informants avoid to prevent entrapment?
Informants are not permitted to engage in activities constituting entrapment.
When can informants use Division-owned property?
Informants can only use specific equipment provided under Division guidance for police investigations.
Under what circumstances can informants be fraternized with by Division personnel?
Division personnel can only fraternize with informants in an official capacity.
What should informants be advised about regarding the possibility of their identity being revealed?
Informants should be informed in advance about the possibility of their identity being revealed in court.
Is promising or threatening defendants with prosecution allowed to encourage assistance?
No, defendants cannot be promised or threatened with prosecution for cooperation.
Can defendants cooperating in exchange for leniency be promised anything without prosecutor approval?
No, any promises require prior approval from the appropriate prosecutor.
Under what conditions can defendants be used as informants and promised amended charges?
Only if authorized by a prosecutor in advance can amended charges be promised.
Can promises of fees be made to informants without authorization?
No, promises of fees require approval from a unit supervisor or higher ranking officer.
When can informants proven unreliable be used without permission?
Informants proven unreliable can only be used with permission of a higher-ranking officer.
What are the tasks that an adult informant can undertake?
Make observations, furnish information, conduct negotiations, testify, and gather intelligence in specific areas.
Are juveniles restricted from certain tasks as informants?
Yes, juveniles are restricted from performing specific tasks as informants without prior approval.
What should Division officers consider regarding documentation of informant fees?
Documents pertaining to informant fees are subject to subpoena and discovery.
What should be ensured regarding the payment of informant fees to avoid negative influence during trials?
Fees should be kept within reasonable limits to avoid affecting jurors during trials.
How should Division officers proceed when dealing with paid informants?
Proper procedures should be followed in all instances when dealing with paid informants.
After evaluating the information value, what determines the payment to the informant?
The value of information or assistance rendered by the informant.
What are the different types of informants based on their motivations?
They can be ego-driven, mercenary, or good citizen informants.
Why should extreme discretion be used when working with informants?
To maintain professionalism and judgment in informant relationships.
What checks are required before utilizing a person as an informant?
Criminal history check through NCIC and warrant checks.
When is a criminal history check through NCIC waived for informants?
It may be waived on a case-by-case basis by a lieutenant or higher ranking officer.
What agreement must defendants and paid informants sign before providing information?
They need to sign the Cooperating Individual Agreement.
How many officers must be present when meeting with informants, excluding Crime Stoppers Informants?
Two officers must be present.
Under what circumstances can an investigator meet with an informant alone?
Only under extraordinary circumstances and with prior approval by a section supervisor.
What is the recommendation for meetings with Crime Stoppers Informants or Informational Sources?
Meetings should also occur with two officers present whenever possible.
What is the protocol when meeting an informant of the opposite gender?
There should be two investigators present.
What rules apply to informants under the age of 18 who wear transmitters?
They must comply with the restrictions in General Orders series 75-04.
What form must be accompanied by all receipts for the Undercover Account?
Form 525
Who is required to sign the original Form 525 when receiving funds as a confidential informant?
Confidential informant
What is the purpose of a written record on each disbursement?
Providing details of receipts and expenditures
What is the requirement if receipts are lost or misplaced?
An explanatory memorandum
Under what conditions are expenditures up to $500.00 required to have prior approval?
Approval of a Unit Supervisor
Who must give prior approval for expenditures over $1,000.00?
Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Investigation or Staff-Level Commander
How often does the Division’s Fiscal Officer audit each account?
Every three months
Who may conduct unannounced audits of each account as needed?
LFUCG Division of Finance
What documents are required to be in the Confidential Informant files?
Printouts of criminal history, expense vouchers, meeting documentation, correspondence, performance reports, evidence sheets, etc.
Who holds ultimate responsibility for undercover funds expenditures?
The Chief of Police, with the Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Investigation for funds issued to the Bureau.
How are undercover monies issued to the Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Investigation?
By check, requested via written memorandum to the Fiscal Officer.
What ranks can establish undercover accounts according to the notes?
Lieutenants and above, with an exception for the supervisor/commander of the Special Investigations Section.
Where should cash funds for undercover operations be maintained?
In safes or locked storage authorized by the Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Investigation or responsible BOI Staff-Level Commander.
What is the consequence if funds are unaccounted for when not stored properly?
The account holder or person with custody is responsible for replacing the lost, stolen, or misplaced funds.
What is the purpose of G.O. 1991-03C?
To establish procedures for informants and undercover funds usage.
What are the different types of informants defined in the notes?
Paid Informant, Crime Stoppers Informant, Working Informant, Confidential Informant, Informational Source.
How is a paid informant defined?
An informant who provides information and receives money for it.
What is the role of the Division of Police Fiscal Officer regarding undercover funds?
To audit undercover funds regularly.
What kind of information is required for an Informant File?
Information from a paid informant or a working informant.
What is ‘charge bargaining’ as mentioned in the procedures for informants?
Individual giving information against others for leniency after being arrested.
How can the risks associated with ‘revenge’ motives of informants be minimized?
By corroborating information and documenting it properly.
What risk is associated with the ‘perverse’ motive of informants?
Possible diversion of attention and provision of erroneous information.
Who authorizes payments to informants based on specified monies?
Appropriate level of command.
What is required before using an informant for payment?
Discussion with the informant.
How are payments to informants documented on Form 525?
Informant’s real name or initials, witnessed by a second officer.
What approvals are needed for expenditures up to $500.00?
Unit supervisor’s prior approval.
Who has to sign the Cooperating Individual Agreement for undercover funds?
The informant.
Where are informant files kept within the organization?
In a secure ‘Safe Room’ within the Special Investigations Section.
What is included in each informant file within the secure ‘Safe Room’?
Biographical, background information, and performance-related data.
