Informants, Cooperating Witnesses, and Undercover Investigations: A Practical Guide to Law, Policy, and Procedure, Second Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)

This book covers every aspect of the informant and cooperating witness dynamic a controversial technique shrouded in secrecy and widely misunderstood. Quoted routinely in countless newspaper and magazine articles, the first edition was the go-to guide for practical, effective guidance on this tricky yet powerful tactic. Extensively updated, topics in this second edition include changes in the FBI's informant program, changes brought on by immigration reforms, recent high-profile cases, and the changing nature of compensation and cooperation fees. It also examines the management of informant-driven search warrants and challenges posed by fabricated information. Now In Its Second Edition, This Volume Takes A Scholarly Approach To An Often Misunderstood And Controversial Law Enforcement Investigative Technique That Traditionally Has Been Shrouded In Secrecy. Written By A Former Miami Vice And Narcotics Detective, Dea Agent, And Attorney, This Authoritative Book Is Based On Boots-on-the-ground Experience. Revisions To This Edition Include Extensive Updates To Each Chapter, Discussion Of Sweeping Changes In The Fbi's Informant Program, Addition Of High-profile Cases, And Updated References. Featured Topics Include Immigration Reform, The Irresponsible Use Of Informants And Lawsuits, Whistleblowers, Cooperation Fees, The Management Of Informant-driven Search Warrants, And Fabricated Information-- Preface Like Most Criminal Investigators, Active And Retired, I Owe The Informants And Cooperating Witnesses I Recruited And Operated Over The Years For Many, If Not Most, Of The Investigative Successes I Enjoyed. Some Threatened The Outcome Of Costly Investigations. Each Informant I Worked With Presented Unique Challenges. Informants Often Face Incredible Risks For Their Handlers. Some Try To Take Advantage Of Their Relationship With Law Enforcement In A System Ripe With Opportunities For Abuse. My Experience With Informants Has Been Mixed. An Informant Saved My Life During An Undercover Heroin Operation. One Of The Informants I Utilized Was Murdered In A Miami Alley When She Was Suspected Of Cooperating With The Police. I've Had To Deactivate A Few Informants For Misconduct. The Cooperating Witness In A Smuggling Investigation I Participated In Had To Enter The U.s. Marshals Witness Security Program Because Of Death Threats, Never To Be Heard From Again. I've Helped Send More Than One Informant To Prison. My Experience With Informants Has Proven Invaluable In My Later Career As A Criminal Attorney And International Criminal Law Advisor. Regardless, This Book Could Not Have Been Written Was It Not For The Experience Of Working Side By Side In Highly Charged Situations With An Odd Mix Of Felons, Prostitutes, And Con Artists. Unfortunately, They All Must Go Unnamed. I Am Sure They Would Want It That Way-- Historical Background -- Informants, Cooperating Witnesses, And Sources Defined -- Motivations For Cooperation -- Recruiting Informants -- Plea-bargaining, Substantial Assistance, And Downward Sentencing Departures -- Documentation, Registration, And The Confidential Source File -- Sources Of Compensation For Informants -- Whistleblowers -- Corroboration Of Informant Information -- Informants And Search Warrants -- Controlled Purchases Of Evidence By Informants -- Undercover Investigations -- Controlling Informants And Institutional Ethics -- Witness Security Program: Falling Off The Face Of The Earth. Dennis G. Fitzgerald, Jd. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Now in its second edition, this volume takes a scholarly approach to an often misunderstood and controversial law enforcement investigative technique that traditionally has been shrouded in secrecy. Written by a former Miami vice and narcotics detective, DEA agent, and attorney, this authoritative book is based on "boots-on-the-ground" experience. Revisions to this edition include extensive updates to each chapter, discussion of sweeping changes in the FBI's informant program, addition of high-profile cases, and updated references. Featured topics include immigration reform, the irresponsible use of informants and lawsuits, whistleblowers, cooperation fees, the management of informant-driven search warrants, and fabricated information"-- Résumé de l'éditeur The use of informants has been described as the "black hole of law enforcement." Failures in the training of police officers and federal agents in the recruitment and operation of informants has undermined costly long-term investigations, destroyed the careers of prosecutors and law enforcement officers, and caused death and serious injuries to inn