What are the three types of informants?

Asked by: Dante Ruecker  |  Last update: January 31, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (30 votes)

Law enforcement recognizes several informant types, but often groups them into three core categories: Criminal Informants (motivated by self-interest like leniency or money), Citizen Informants (ordinary people with witnessed info, motivated by good citizenship), and sometimes a combination or specialized group like Defendant Informants (awaiting sentencing/facing charges) or Confidential Informants (CIs) (regular sources with established reliability).

What are the different types of informants?

There are four types of informant: a member of the public, a victim of a crime, a member of an organized criminal group or police officers themselves. Informants are also referred to as "justice collaborators" or they may be known as "cooperating witnesses" (UNODC, 2008).

What are the three types of participants in a crime?

In modern times, the parties to crime are principals and their accomplices, and accessories. The criminal act element required for accomplice liability is aiding, abetting, or assisting in the commission of a crime.

What kind of informant is a CI?

A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT IS A SECRET SOURCE WHO, THROUGH A CONTACT OFFICER, SUPPLIES INFORMATION ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO THE POLICE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT.

Who is higher, CI or SI?

Sub-Inspector (SI)

A Sub-Inspector is a police officer who ranks below an Inspector and above an Assistant Police Sub-Inspector (ASI).

What Are The Different Types Of Informants? - Jail & Prison Insider

19 related questions found

What does a CI get paid?

Confidential Informant Salary

The median wage is $76.9K / yr. $96.4K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.

How to tell if someone is setting you up with under cover?

Recognizing suspicious behavior early can protect you from deeper legal trouble. Some signs to watch for include: Persistent pressure to commit a crime. If someone pressures you to commit a crime after you hesitate or refuse, it could signify unlawful manipulation or entrapment.

What code is for a confidential informant?

19 CFR § 161.15 - Confidentiality for informant. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute.

Can you find out who snitched on you?

The general rule is that the prosecution doesn't have to disclose the identity of a confidential informant. However, this rule has many exceptions; if a criminal defendant can show the importance of the CI's identity to the case, it may be possible to find out who's been talking to the cops.

What are the 3 C's of criminal justice?

We will spend time exploring the three main components of the criminal justice system, or an easy way to remember this is the three main C's: cops, courts, and corrections.

What are the 5 types of profiling?

Broadly speaking, we can divide profiling into five categories: (1) crime scene profiling (often called criminal profiling, offender profiling, or criminal investigative analysis), (2) geo- graphical profiling, (3) suspect-based profiling, (4) psychological profiling, and (5) equivocal death analysis (also called the ...

What are the three most common crimes?

According to the Pew Research Center, the most common form of property crime in 2022 was larceny/theft, followed by motor vehicle theft and burglary. These crimes significantly impact victims financially and emotionally, and they constitute a considerable portion of criminal cases in the judicial system.

What is a secret informant called?

In the United States, a confidential informant or "CI" is "any individual who provides useful and credible information to a law enforcement agency regarding felonious criminal activities and from whom the agency expects or intends to obtain additional useful and credible information regarding such activities in the ...

Who is a reliable informant?

The most common ways of establishing the reliability of an informant's report are by showing that “it is corroborated by other evidence, or [that] the confidential informant has a history of providing reliable information.” United States v. Butler, 594 F. 3d 955 (8th Cir. 2010).

What is the slang for informant?

An incarcerated person who informs on other people in prison. Pigeon and stool pigeon were also terms for informers.

How to spot an informant?

Here are ten warning signs:

  1. Something feels “off.” Something about them just doesn't line up. ...
  2. Despite the misgivings of some members, the individual quickly rises to a leadership position. ...
  3. S/he photographs actions, meetings, and people that should not be photographed. ...
  4. S/he is a liar.

What does 1042 mean in police code?

Police code 10-42 most commonly means "Ending Tour of Duty", signaling an officer is finishing their shift, often used for retirement or at the end of the day, but its meaning can vary by department, sometimes indicating a traffic stop or even a "dead person" in some jurisdictions, so context is key.
 

How to beat a confidential informant?

Also, questioning the circumstances of the CI's story or testimony can challenge their credibility. This can include looking into the conditions under which the CI provided their statement or testimony, such as whether they were coerced or promised leniency in exchange for their testimony.

How to spot a surveillance team?

Here, he breaks down eight key indicators to help you identify a surveillance team.

  1. Earpieces: A Dead Giveaway. ...
  2. Hands in the Right Pocket. ...
  3. Shoes: The Unchanged Detail. ...
  4. Vehicle Age and Maintenance. ...
  5. Ghost Number Plates. ...
  6. Motorcyclists: A Rare Sight. ...
  7. Double-Crewed Vehicles. ...
  8. Unfamiliar Vehicles Near Your Home.

How do you know you are being surveilled?

Assess the situation: Pay close attention to your surroundings and any suspicious behaviour you observe. Look for signs of stalking/surveillance, such as individuals loitering nearby, unusual vehicles parked outside your home or workplace, or repeated encounters with the same people.

How much do cops pay informants?

Police Informant Salary

The median wage is $56.4K / yr. $71.8K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.

What is the highest paid Secret Service agent?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $105,000 and as low as $35,000, the majority of Secret Service Special Agent salaries currently range between $52,000 (25th percentile) to $78,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $90,000 annually across the United States.

How much do snitches make?

How much does a Confidential Informant make in Los Angeles, California? As of Jan 17, 2026, the average annual pay for a Confidential Informant in Los Angeles is $90,200 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $43.37 an hour.