Confidential Informants
In America, the police fight crime. To fight crime, they use several methods. One method is using confidential informants. What exactly is a confidential informant, and what does he or she do?
A confidential informant, casually called a “snitch,” is a person who tells the police about suspected criminals and tells them everything he or she knows about said suspect. Acting under orders of the police, an informant may purchase drugs, place calls, or try to get the suspect to make an incriminating statement so the police can arrest and jail him or her. When the informant or snitch buys drugs or other illegal contraband at the request of the police (controlled buys), he or she does so in order for the police to compile enough evidence against the suspect to arrest him or her or else then pressure the person arrested to give information about his or her contacts. Controlled buys may involve the informant paying suspects with marked bills, a certain amount of which police gave him or her, and then handing the purchased item over to the police who then use the marked bills to track the suspect.
Not every arrestee meets the criteria for being an informant. For instance, police may not want an informant who has a long rap sheet and lying on the stand; that person would not make an ideal witness for the police.
The advantage of being an informant is that the informant might get the cases against him or her dismissed or at least have the charges reduced. Generally speaking, the charges against the informant are not dismissed completely, but the informant gets a better deal. Typically, an informant still has to enter some type of plea bargain with the police and prosecutor and agree to it. The police and prosecutor also do not make major promises to an informant in order to ensure that he or she is not giving a false testimony, so that he or she can walk away with a clean slate.
A potential informant should be aware of the expectations that come with being an informant. Many arrestees believe that once a task or transaction, e.g. a drug deal, is finished, so is their role as informants. Nevertheless, that is not the case; an informant often introduces undercover cops to suspects and testifies at trial. An Informant also is not allowed to do certain things while working for the police. For instance, he or she cannot deal, possess, or use illegal drugs for his or her own unauthorized purposes; if he or she does, the police will revoke the deal. The informants’ job is not pleasant; he or she must turn on his or her friends and customers. Even though they are criminals, for many informants, it is not an easy task.
Being a confidential informant can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. If you are asked to be a confidential informant, if possible, consult with an attorney: he or she can be a great ally. For more information, contact Nashville Attorney Perry A. Craft.
Perry A. Craft has dedicated his life to helping people in need. He has tried, settled, or resolved numerous civil and criminal cases in State and Federal courts, and has represented teachers and administrators before school boards, administrative judges, and the state Board of Education. Learn more about Attorney Craft.