Informants and the Public Police (From Criminal and Civil Investigation Handbook, P 4-63 to 4-80, 1981, Joseph J Grau and Ben Jacobson, ed. - See NCJ-84274)

• NCJ Number: 84295
• Author(s): B Jacobson
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Guidelines are provided for developing and using police informants.

Abstract

Generally, informants can be developed from the following motives of potential informants: (1) the desire to break and reduce sanctions for a criminal lifestyle, (2) revenge, (3) greed, (4) jealousy, and (5) monetary considerations (paid informant). Before registering an informant, it must be determined whether the person's knowledge can be useful to an investigation. This can be found out through interviews with the potential informant and a thorough background check. The most reliable information can be obtained from the informant involved in criminal activity or its fringes. The procedures used to obtain information, the personal relationship developed between the informant and investigator, the socioeconomic pressures, and the guidelines agreed upon all play an important part in providing a useful working relationship with an informer. The investigator must determine the significance of the data the informant has to offer. The most valuable informant is the one who can (1) supply information useful for the particular inquiry; (2) supply descriptive data vital to the furtherance of the investigation; (3) offer direct contact with the subject of the inquiry; and (4) offer photographs, personal documents, and layouts of apartments, business establishments, and locations frequented by subjects of the investigation. Of particular importance is security and secrecy for the informant.