Informants, Cooperating Witnesses, and Undercover Investigations: A Practical Guide to Law, Policy

The use of informants has been a controversial and powerful investigative tool, but failures in training and operation have undermined costly investigations, destroyed careers, and caused harm to innocent citizens and police. This second edition of "Informants, Cooperating Witnesses, and Undercover Investigations: A Practical Guide to Law, Policy, and Procedure" covers recent changes in the FBI and ICE informant and undercover programs, new recruiting techniques, and issues such as entrapment, compensation, and witness security. Written by an author with extensive experience in law enforcement, the book is essential reading for police officers, managers, prosecutors, academy trainers, criminal justice professors, and defense attorneys.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 556 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The use of informants has been widely acknowledged as a significant challenge in law enforcement, often referred to as the "black hole" of the field. Failures in the training and operation of police officers and federal agents in recruiting and utilizing informants have resulted in detrimental consequences that have undermined costly long-term investigations, damaged the careers of prosecutors and law enforcement officers, and caused harm to innocent citizens and police officers. In numerous instances, the events leading to disastrous outcomes could have been avoided if law enforcement agencies had followed established procedures and protocols examined in this book.

Informants, Cooperating Witnesses, and Undercover Investigations: A Practical Guide to Law, Policy, and Procedure, Second Edition, delves into the intricate world of informants and cooperating witnesses, a technique that is often shrouded in secrecy and misunderstood. This book has become a go-to resource for practical and effective guidance on this controversial yet powerful investigative tool, with its first edition being quoted extensively in numerous newspaper and magazine articles. Extensively updated, the second edition of this book covers a wide range of topics, including:

Sweeping changes in the FBI and ICE informant and undercover programs: The book provides insights into the recent developments and changes in these programs, including new recruiting techniques, reverse sting operations, and examination of recent high-profile cases where the misuse of informants led to lawsuits and legislation.

New informant recruiting techniques: The author discusses innovative approaches to recruiting informants, including social media and online platforms, as well as the use of psychological tactics and incentives.

Reverse sting operations: The book explores the use of undercover officers to elicit information from suspects, discussing the ethical considerations and legal implications of such operations.

Entrapment issues: The author examines the legal definition of entrapment and discusses the challenges associated with proving it in court, as well as the implications for law enforcement and the accused.

Examination of recent high-profile cases where the misuse of informants resulted in lawsuits and legislation: The book provides case studies and examples of recent high-profile cases where the misuse of informants has led to legal action and changes in law enforcement practices.

The changing nature of compensation and cooperation agreements: The author discusses the evolving nature of compensation and cooperation agreements between law enforcement agencies and informants, including issues related to confidentiality, liability, and rewards.

Forfeiture, informants, and rewards: The book explores the use of forfeiture laws and rewards programs to incentivize informants, discussing the ethical considerations and legal challenges associated with such practices.

The management of controlled undercover purchases of evidence: The author discusses the techniques and procedures used to manage controlled undercover purchases of evidence, including the use of informants and undercover officers.

Challenges posed by fabricated information, phantom informants, and police corruption: The book addresses the challenges posed by false information, phantom informants, and police corruption, discussing the strategies and measures used to detect and prevent these issues.

Witness security measures: The author discusses the importance of witness security and provides insights into the measures used to protect witnesses from harm and intimidation.

New whistleblower reward programs: The book explores the establishment of new whistleblower reward programs to encourage individuals to report misconduct within law enforcement agencies.

Authoritative, scholarly, and based on extensive boots-on-the-ground experience, this book is written by an author with extensive experience in law enforcement and investigative practices. It provides a comprehensive and practical guide for law enforcement professionals, policymakers, and students interested in understanding the complexities of informant and cooperating witness dynamics. By examining the latest developments, ethical considerations, and legal implications, this book offers valuable insights into the effective use of informants in law enforcement investigations.

Weight: 1025g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367778293
Edition number: 2 New edition