Confidential Informant List For My City Exclusive -

Under , prosecutors must turn over exculpatory evidence. Under Roviaro v. United States , if an informant is an active participant in the crime (a witness, not just a tipster), the judge can force the state to reveal the CI’s identity.

But does that list actually exist? And if it does, can you—a private citizen—legally get your hands on it? confidential informant list for my city exclusive

Unless you are a defense attorney with a court order or a federal agent with a warrant, that list will remain exclusive —exclusively out of your reach. Under , prosecutors must turn over exculpatory evidence

Most courts have ruled that even the existence of a CI list is exempt from disclosure. In The Detroit Free Press v. City of Detroit (2022), a judge ruled that releasing a roster of active CIs would lead to "an immediate and foreseeable risk of retaliatory homicide." But does that list actually exist

This article is for informational and educational purposes only regarding public records law and legal procedure. It does not describe an actual, obtainable database of undercover informants. Attempting to uncover or expose active confidential informants may obstruct justice, violate state and federal laws, and endanger lives. The Exclusive Truth: Can You Get a Confidential Informant List for My City? By: Legal Affairs Desk

The confidential informant list for your city is a legal fiction designed to protect lives. It exists, but it is fragmented across encrypted hard drives, locked evidence lockers, and the memories of handlers.