Policy Text
Page 1 of 3 1/30 (REV 2/18)
GENERAL ORDER
INFORMANT FILES – DOCUMENTING THE USE AND PAYMENT OF INFORMANTS
The purpose of this order is to e stablish the requirements for informant files (commonly
referred to as “red files”) whic h are used for documenting the use of informants and any
payments made to informants.
Policy
No officer shall use an info rmant in any manner without supervi sor approval.
Additionally no officer shall us e a Confidential Informant, Con fidential Reliable
Informant or Paid Informant wit hout completing an informant fil e and entering all
activities in the file.
Informant Definitions
Confidential Informant:
An informant who most often prov ides information for considera tion on a pending
criminal case.
Confidential Reliable Informant:
A tested informant who has provi ded reliable information in th e past.
Citizen Informant:
An informant who provides inf ormation out of public spiritedne ss.
Paid Informant: An informant who provides inf ormation for monetary payment.
In-Custody Informant:
An informant, other than a c odefendant, percipient witness, ac complice, or
coconspirator whose testimony i s based on statem ents made by th e defendant while
both the defendant and the informan t are held within a correcti onal institution.
Informant Files Contents
Informant files shall be kept i n red colored 9” x 12” folders. Pertinent information
as described below shall be st apled to the inside cover of the folder:
Page 2 of 3 1/30 (REV 2/18) A n Operator Identific ation and Background form shall be filled out as completely
as possible (A ttachment A).
A blank Operator Worksheet form shall be used to record all activities, paid or
unpaid, successful or unsuccessf ul (see Attachment B).
A local and CII rap sheet, if a vailable. If an informant has b een inactive for six
months or more, another local a nd CII rap sheet will be run and added to the file.
All pertinent information or r eports may be included such as p ast offense reports,
references, DMV information, etc.
A photo of the informant.
Security of Informant Files
The security of the identity o f informants is essential in ord er for department
personnel to maintain the effect iveness and personal safety of each informant.
Failure to exercise proper cont rol of an informant package cou ld result in its loss
and disclosure of the informant’s identity to unauthorized pers ons. Such a circumstance
may leave the department and the County exposed to serious liab ility.
To ensure security: Complete only one inform ant file for each informant.
Duplication or copying an in formant file is prohibited.
Secure informant files in a lo cked cabinet inaccessible to the public in the
detective bureau of each division, as applicable.
Removal of an informant file from the division is prohibited.
Destruction of Informant Files
All informant files shall have a yearly review. Files that do not have new
information or data entries wit hin five years will be identifie d as “inactive” and destroyed.
The Division designee shall be responsible for identifying inac tive files, advising his/her
Executive Officer and personally shredding all files deemed ina ctive to ensure
confidentiality.
Unreliable Informant
If an officer determines an informant is unreliable:
Clearly mark the inside front c over of the informant’s file wi th “Unreliable
Informant ”
Include detailed information on the informant activity sheet e xplaining the
reason(s) the inform ant is unreliable.
Notify the Western States Info rmation Network (WSIN) of the un reliable informant
so the information can be placed in their unreliable informant files.
Page 3 of 3 1/30 (REV 2/18) References: Penal Code section 1127a (In-custody informant)
Related Orders: General Order 1/31 Management of Informants