Policy Text
Policy Delano Police Department
603 Delano PD Policy Manual
Informants
603.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the use of informants.
603.1.1 DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall apply when dealing with informants:
An informant is any person who provides information to a law enforcement officer. Informants are
a judicially recognized source of information.
There are several types of informants.
Citizen Informant: An individual who is in a position to provide information concerning criminal
activity, but are not generally involved in any criminal activity and are providing their information
openly and through motives of good citizenship. These type of informants have a higher level of
reliability than other types of informants (194 Cal.App3rd 975, 982)
Informant: A person who, under the direction of a specific officer and with or without expectation
of compensation, furnishes information or performs a lawful service for the Department in its
investigations and operations.
Offender Informant: Like an informant as listed above, but subject to arrest and prosecution for
a state or federal offense by the officer.
Defendant Informant: Informant who has a pending state or federal case who expects
compensation for his assistance in either the form of judicial or persecutive consideration or
compensation of another form.
Restricted-Use Informant: Any person who meets any of the following criteria shall be considered
"informant, subject to use as authorized below:
a. A person less than 18 years of age, with parent/guardian written approval, and in accordance
with the criteria established in 608.3.1.
b. A person on probation or parole (federal or state): Only with the consent of agency supervising
him.
603.1.2 SOURCE OF INFORMATION
The title "Informant," does not apply to "sources of information." A source of information is a person
or organization, not under the direction of a specific officer who provides information without
becoming a party to the investigation itself (e.g., a business firm furnishing information from its
records; a concerned citizen who witnesses an event of interest.)
Should a person who would otherwise be considered a source of information seek financial
compensation, or become a continuing active part of the investigative process, his status should
be shifted to that of an informant. Generally, a person fitting within this definition can be identified
by name in investigative reports.
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/06, All Rights Reserved. Informants - 1
Published with permission by Delano Police Department