What is the most effective way to assess reliability of a criminal informant's information?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most effective way to assess reliability of a criminal informant's information is by evaluating the accuracy of past information provided by the informant. This involves checking whether previous tips provided by the informant turned out to be true or false. This method is much more reliable than relying on the number of convictions or arrests produced by the informant's information since those could be influenced by other factors such as the skill of investigators or the prosecutorial strategy. Additionally, a positive assessment from the officer who obtained the information may not be reliable since they may have a relationship with the informant that could impact their judgment.

What Is the Most Effective Way to Assess Reliability of a Criminal