A confidential informant is an individual who provides privileged information about criminal activity to law enforcement. Unlike a citizen witness who might report a crime they saw in their neighborhood, a CI often operates within criminal networks. They are frequently motivated by leniency in their own legal troubles or, in some cases, financial compensation. Because their utility depends on their ability to remain embedded or trusted, their identity is the most closely guarded secret in a police department. Why Lists Are Not Public
If you are looking for a downloadable PDF or a searchable database of names on your local police department’s website, you are likely out of luck. Here is the reality regarding confidential informant (CI) lists, why they are kept secret, and the very specific circumstances under which those names might be revealed.
Sometimes, a search warrant application will mention an "unnamed CI," but the details provided (e.g., "The CI has known the defendant for three years...") might be specific enough that the defendant can guess who it is. In some jurisdictions, these warrants are filed with the court clerk and become public record after a certain period. police confidential informant list for my city
Brady Material and CredibilityUnder the Brady Rule, prosecutors must turn over any evidence that is favorable to the defense. If an informant has a long criminal history, has been paid thousands of dollars, or has lied in the past, the defense has a right to know this information to challenge the CI's credibility during a trial. How to Find Information Related to Your Case
If you'd like to explore the legal requirements for unmasking an informant in a specific state or understand how "controlled buys" work, let me know. A confidential informant is an individual who provides
The searchable database contains 5,000 names, 400 purportedly of undercover police and more than 4,300 listed as confidential info... Police1 Learning the Identity of a Confidential Informant - PRISM a CI is someone who came to the police voluntarily and doesn't wish to be identified, often because of a fear of retaliation. If p... Anthem FOIA.gov - Freedom of Information Act While FOIA allows for many records to be released, there are also nine exemptions that protect certain types of information, such ... Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (.gov) 19 CFR § 161.15 - Confidentiality for informant. specific informant records that are exempt from disclosure are those that could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of... LII | Legal Information Institute Experts explain how confidential informants infect the criminal ... Nov 25, 2016 —
If criminals knew exactly who the informants were, the entire intelligence-gathering apparatus of the police would collapse. No one would trust anyone, and the flow of information regarding criminal activity would stop entirely. Because their utility depends on their ability to
The reality of a police confidential informant list is that, in almost every jurisdiction, a single, public document containing these names does not exist. Law enforcement agencies and the judicial system go to extreme lengths to keep this information under seal to protect the integrity of investigations and the lives of those involved.
Under various state and federal laws, the identities of confidential informants are explicitly .
This is the most common way names become public. If an informant is used as a witness in a criminal trial, the defense has the right to know who is testifying against their client. This information usually appears in court transcripts or motions. However, this isn't a "list"; it is specific to one individual involved in one specific case.