Criminal Investigation: Informant Use

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of introducing trainees to informant development and utilization?

To learn about the significance of informant development and utilization in law enforcement (correct)

To understand the importance of evidence in an investigation

To understand the role of victims and witnesses in an investigation

To learn about the role of labs in an investigation

What is the key to a successful investigation?

The cooperation of victims and witnesses

The information gathered from various sources (correct)

The availability of forensic evidence

The skill of the investigator

What is a key difference between informants and victims or witnesses?

Their relationship with the investigator

Their level of involvement in the investigation

Their ability to provide accurate information

Their motivation for cooperating with law enforcement (correct)

What is a major use of informants in law enforcement?

To provide accurate information to aid in investigations Signup and view all the answers

What is essential for an investigator to be aware of when dealing with informants?

Their personal agenda and motives Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial aspect of the officer-informant relationship?

Following guidelines and protocols Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of informants that sets them apart from victims and witnesses?

Their motives and mode of operation Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of informants in law enforcement?

They are an essential part of the law enforcement world of investigations and information gathering Signup and view all the answers

What was the trial of seven radicals accused of conspiring to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago?

The Chicago Seven Signup and view all the answers

How many arrests were attributed to one informant in the San Francisco area in one year?

2,000 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason an investigator needs to be aware of an informant's motive?

To evaluate the value and reliability of the information Signup and view all the answers

What type of informant provides confidential information but wants to remain anonymous?

Confidential informant Signup and view all the answers

What is a common motive for an informant to cooperate with an investigation?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a common use of informants in law enforcement?

To make controlled buys of illegal items Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical case load of an investigator?

Heavy Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a successful investigator?

Ability to talk to people on any level, sincerely and knowledgeably Signup and view all the answers

How many arrests did the FBI report as a result of informants?

14,000 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for categorizing informants?

To determine their motive Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of using an informant to purchase controlled substances?

To identify the source of the controlled substances Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to carefully control the actions of an informant?

To avoid entrapment and ensure the informant's safety Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of documenting each transaction and incident involving an informant?

To establish a record of the informant's reliability Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using an informant identification system?

It helps to maintain the confidentiality of the informant's identity Signup and view all the answers

What should an officer avoid when dealing with an informant?

Developing a personal relationship with the informant Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using informants in law enforcement?

To obtain information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for an officer to have a professional outlook towards informants?

To protect their reputation and avoid being manipulated by the informant Signup and view all the answers

What should an officer do when evaluating an informant's reliability?

Consider their motives and interests Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to follow the department's procedures when dealing with informants?

To protect the officer's reputation and avoid liability Signup and view all the answers

What should an officer avoid when developing an informant relationship?

Becoming involved in a personal relationship Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Informant Development and Utilization

Informants are essential in law enforcement, providing crucial information to investigators, and are indispensable to effective law enforcement in a community.
Informants differ from victims and witnesses in terms of their motives and mode of operation, and their information can be "slanted" to a personal agenda.

Importance of Informants

Informants have always been an important part of law enforcement investigations and information gathering.
The traditional shortcut to solving crimes or locating wanted persons is through informants.
Examples of significant cases that have been tried based on the use of informants include the Chicago Seven, the Seattle Eight, and the Harrisburg Seven.

Classifications of Informants

There are two main categories of informants:
- Informant: provides information openly or anonymously.
- Confidential informant: provides confidential information concerning past or projected crimes, but does not want to be known as the source of the information.

Motives of Informants

The most common motives of informants include:
- Vanity: wants attention.
- Civic Mindedness: wants to see justice done.
- Fear: person is under the illusion of oppression or impending danger.
- Repentance: wants to right the wrong to clear their conscience.
- Avoidance of punishment: seeks to avoid punishment for another crime.
- Gratitude or gain: wants to express gratitude or obtain a privilege.
- Competition: wants to eliminate competition.
- Revenge: wants to settle a grudge.
- Jealousy: jealous of what the other person has and wants to ruin them.
- Remuneration: informs for the money.

Uses of Informants

The four major uses of informants include:
- To make controlled buys of illegal items.
- To acquire information to establish probable cause and a search warrant.
- To provide officer entry into an illegal operation.
- To obtain information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

Guidelines for Officer-Informant Relationship

Develop your own informants and evaluate each person's information for reliability.
Consider persons working jobs with specific vantage points.
Take precautions to avoid entrapment or the appearance of entrapment.
Document each transaction and incident in which the informant's actions are proven correct.
Have an intelligent, objective, and professional outlook and attitude toward informants.
Use an informant identification system to protect the informant's identity.
Follow your department's procedures for monitoring, recording, and tracking informant use.

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Description

Learn about the importance of informant development and utilization in law enforcement, including characteristics and uses of informants. Identify the importance of informants and different classifications of informants.