Confidential Informant Management Flashcards
7 cards from real DEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Confidential Informant Management flashcards as text
Under DEA's Confidential Source program, which category of person is PROHIBITED from being opened as a CS without special written authorization from DEA Headquarters?
Answer: Persons under 18 years of age
Juveniles under 18 require special written authorization from DEA Headquarters before being established as a CS due to legal and ethical protections afforded to minors.
A CS who has been providing information for two years suddenly begins providing intelligence that is inconsistent with other verified sources. What DEA protocol should the handler initiate?
Answer: Conduct a validation review to assess the CS's reliability and possible compromise
Inconsistent intelligence triggers a validation review to determine whether the CS has been compromised, turned, or is fabricating information before further operational use.
What is the term used in DEA policy for a CS who works without receiving any financial compensation but may receive other non-monetary considerations?
Answer: Non-Compensated Source (NCS)
DEA classifies informants who provide information without monetary payment as Non-Compensated Sources (NCS), though they may still receive considerations like immigration assistance or prosecutorial benefits.
A handler discovers that a CS has been conducting unauthorized drug transactions for personal profit while supposedly working for the DEA. Under 21 USC, the handler's FIRST obligation is to:
Answer: Immediately notify the Group Supervisor and document the unauthorized activity
Unauthorized criminal activity by a CS must be immediately reported to the Group Supervisor and fully documented; allowing it to continue or concealing it exposes the handler to criminal liability.
Which principle governs the DEA's restriction on allowing a CS to commit crimes that go beyond what is necessary to maintain their cover or complete an authorized operation?
Answer: Authorized Illegal Activity (AIA) Standard
The Authorized Illegal Activity standard defines the narrow scope within which a CS may engage in criminal conduct, requiring pre-authorization for any illegal acts performed in their informant role.
When a CS is arrested by a local law enforcement agency unaware of the DEA relationship, the handler's immediate priority is to:
Answer: Contact the local agency through proper channels to prevent disclosure of the CS relationship in public records
The handler must work through proper channels to protect the CS's identity and cover while ensuring the local agency is aware of the federal interest, without publicly revealing the informant relationship.
The 'Giglio obligation' most directly affects DEA CS management because it requires prosecutors to disclose to defense counsel:
Answer: Any payments, promises, or benefits provided to a CS who will testify
Under Giglio v. United States, prosecutors must disclose any consideration given to a witness-informant that could affect their credibility, including all payments and promises made.