Confidential Informants

A Closer Look at Police Policy

Nonfiction, Health & Well Being, Psychology, Research, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Crimes & Criminals, Criminology
Cover of the book Confidential Informants by Jon Shane, Springer International Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jon Shane ISBN: 9783319222523
Publisher: Springer International Publishing Publication: September 19, 2015
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: Jon Shane
ISBN: 9783319222523
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Publication: September 19, 2015
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

While confidential informants (CI’s) can play a crucial role in police investigations, they also have the potential to cause great harm if they are dishonest.  The process by which police agencies qualify a CI to work and the strength of agency policy may be the source of the problem.  This Brief examines the integrity problem involving CIs in police operations within the United States, provides an overview of pitfalls and problems related to veracity and informant integrity including the difficulties in detecting when a CI is lying, and compares the provisions of actual published police policy to the model CI policy published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).  The analysis shows a wide divergence between actual police policy and the national standard promulgated by the IACP.

The Brief provides policy recommendations for improving use of CIs that can potentially reduce or eliminate integrity problems that can lead to organizational accidents such as wrongful arrests and convictions, injuries or deaths.  Some Courts have issued measures to ensure that information received from CIs is reliable by examining sworn testimony and documents related to their work. However, as this Brief explores, this judicial effort arises only after a police operation has taken place, and the use of force – even deadly force—has already been employed. The author proposes integrity testing beforehand, which would allow police to have a greater understanding of a CI’s motivation, ability and veracity when conducting law enforcement operations. In addition, there are aspects of police policy that can enhance CI management such as training, supervision and entrapment that can further guard against integrity problems. Although integrity testing is not flawless, it does interpose an additional step in the CI management process that can help guard against wrongful conviction and perjury that harms the judicial process.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

While confidential informants (CI’s) can play a crucial role in police investigations, they also have the potential to cause great harm if they are dishonest.  The process by which police agencies qualify a CI to work and the strength of agency policy may be the source of the problem.  This Brief examines the integrity problem involving CIs in police operations within the United States, provides an overview of pitfalls and problems related to veracity and informant integrity including the difficulties in detecting when a CI is lying, and compares the provisions of actual published police policy to the model CI policy published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).  The analysis shows a wide divergence between actual police policy and the national standard promulgated by the IACP.

The Brief provides policy recommendations for improving use of CIs that can potentially reduce or eliminate integrity problems that can lead to organizational accidents such as wrongful arrests and convictions, injuries or deaths.  Some Courts have issued measures to ensure that information received from CIs is reliable by examining sworn testimony and documents related to their work. However, as this Brief explores, this judicial effort arises only after a police operation has taken place, and the use of force – even deadly force—has already been employed. The author proposes integrity testing beforehand, which would allow police to have a greater understanding of a CI’s motivation, ability and veracity when conducting law enforcement operations. In addition, there are aspects of police policy that can enhance CI management such as training, supervision and entrapment that can further guard against integrity problems. Although integrity testing is not flawless, it does interpose an additional step in the CI management process that can help guard against wrongful conviction and perjury that harms the judicial process.

More books from Springer International Publishing

Cover of the book Towards Zero Waste by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Complex Terrain Mapping by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Gender and Sexuality in Stoic Philosophy by Jon Shane
Cover of the book New Perspectives for Environmental Policies Through Behavioral Economics by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Effective Evolution Equations from Quantum Dynamics by Jon Shane
Cover of the book From Network Structure to Policy Design in Water Protection by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Percutaneous Treatment of Left Side Cardiac Valves by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Globalization and Marginalization in Mountain Regions by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Manual of Pediatric Anesthesia by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Learning Portuguese as a Second Language by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Medicinal Orchids of Asia by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Transnational Philanthropy by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Interdisciplinary Applications of Kinematics by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Fibre Bragg Grating and No-Core Fibre Sensors by Jon Shane
Cover of the book Transdisciplinarity for Small-Scale Fisheries Governance by Jon Shane
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy