So how can a court find a CI's testimony to be credible? . The fact that the confidential informant is often a convicted felon, their credibility is already at issue. This website is for general informational purposes only. It is possible to beat drug trafficking charges. A confidential informant is a person who provides information to law enforcement regarding another individual or organization in relation to a crime. The Confidential Informant may be a drug dealer, a significant other, someone you are friends with, someone that works for you, someone that you work for, etc. Experts explain how confidential informants infect the - Inlander A Bureau of Justice Assistance Monograph. Im still baffled how a medical professional (term used loosely) can influence so many, manipulate and down right lie. The CI may be working several buy busts before the CIs work is finished with the police. You can be called as a witness to testify on the governments behalf if the person you snitched on requests a jury trial. Kansas bill would give context about jailhouse informants | The Kansas Copyright 2022, Thomson Reuters. vPxK s&K0!6XYY'`aIbce9"\*z816&V:::Z. Can a REDDI Report Be the Legal Basis for a Traffic Stop? Possibly, yes. If the judge grants the motion to compel disclosure, the prosecution has some tough choices to make: If they dont want to burn their CI or if they dont have one, they wont disclose the identity, and the case will be dismissed. Here in Mexico, there is no justice, only impunity," Magana says. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards. We will review the facts surrounding your unique case and provide you with honest answers. For a free case evaluation that is completely free of obligation, contact Weinstein Legal law firm today and ask for defense lawyer Matt Shafran. During several phone conversations with NPR last fall, Lalo insisted on speaking only Spanish. This factor is formally called "veracity," and is used by courts to determine if a CI has a reputation for telling the truth. ICE says the fault lies with former agent Bencomo, Lalo's handler. Evidence that a CI has reliably provided accurate information in the past may indicate to the court that he or she is credible. In the 1960s, a trio of Supreme Court decisions Hoffa v. United States, Lewis v. United States, and Osborn v. United States made clear that police have a relatively free hand to use informants. Additionally, the severity of the penalties associated with each charge worsen as the amount of drugs found in your control increases. Head of the criminal defense division and fellow partner Matt Shafran is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Florida who is ready and willing to fight aggressively in a court of law to defend your rights. hide caption. It also shows how to gain maximum benefits from using informants while maintaining the integrity of the agencies and investigators who rely on informant information.