NCJ Number
1790
Date Published
1968
Length
159 pages
Annotation
BY TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EXPERIENCED IN THEIR USE, PHILOSPHY ON THE USE OF THE INFORMER IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
Abstract
THE AUTHORS OBSERVE THAT, ALTHOUGH INFORMERS ARE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS AVAILABLE TO SOLVE CRIMES, THEIR USE HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO UNDESERVED CONTEMPT AND MISUNDERSTANDING BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL AS BY MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. AN OBJECTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO FINDING AND USING INFORMERS IS PRESENTED, WHICH MAKES USE OF THE INFORMER'S MOTIVES AND PSYCHOLOGY. THE LEGAL STATUS OF INFORMERS IS ALSO DISCUSSED, AND LEADING CASES INVOLVING INFORMERS ARE CITED, INCLUDING A DISCUSSION OF INFORMER PRIVILEGE - THE RIGHT OF A POLICE OFFICER TO WITHHOLD THE IDENTITY OF AN INFORMANT. ALSO EXAMINED ARE SEVERAL WELL-KNOWN CRIMINAL CASES WHICH INVOLVED INFORMERS.