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Legal and Practical Issues of Handling Informants

 
The use of informants dates back to the beginnings of human speech. By the time of Judas and Christ, it was an ingrained information gathering concept. The innate curiosity of mankind demands information. The best source of information usually comes from those closest to the activity. In the law enforcement realm those sources close to, and at times involved in the activity, can often be motivated to share that information. Whether they are called cooperating witnesses, informants, confidential informants, sources, or snitches. They are the eyes inside that give the probable cause or reasonable suspicions to hold bad actors accountable. This webinar will focus on moral, legal, ethical ways to gather information through the use of informants. We will emphasize best practices for developing, deploying and documenting informants. We will discuss the types of informants and their motivations. We will also look at how the methods used by organizations such as news, intelligence, counter intelligence, terrorist and criminal organizations, to develop and use informants, can be coopted and used by law enforcement.

Faculty

Quintin D. McShan

Quintin D. McShan

Homeland