NCJ Number
133084
Date Published
Unknown
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Because prosecutors must understand all the legal and practical ramifications presented by a case's informants, guidelines are presented for choosing and working with confidential informants.
Abstract
Informants include anonymous, unpaid, unwitting, paid, or criminal informants. They must be selected on the basis of truthfulness, prospects for detecting serious offenders, and believability before a judge or jury. The informant selection process involves interviewing and evaluating for truthfulness, determining the capacity of the potential informant, establishing a timetable for the informant's work, and identifying the information needed by the prosecutor. An agreement of cooperation must be signed that defines the informant's and the prosecutor's responsibilities and conditions applicable to the informant. Informants must be managed and controlled from the moment they are recruited through the trial's conclusion. The use and control of informant testimony are examined as well as policy considerations in the use of informants, informant privileges, and entrapment. A sample informant/defendant agreement and informant regulations are included.