What makes this exclusion extraordinary is that it does not merely allow an agency to withhold information. It allows the agency to treat the records as if they do not exist at all—to neither confirm nor deny that any responsive documents are held. This is known as a named after the Hughes Glomar Explorer, a ship involved in classified CIA operations. When an agency issues a Glomar response to a FOIA request, it refuses to even acknowledge whether the requested records exist.
: In some cases, you might be able to find information through public records or by filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. However, due to the sensitive nature of the topic, much of this information may be exempt from public disclosure.
Attempting to uncover an informant can be treated as interfering with an active investigation.
Beyond statutory law, a federal common-law "informer's privilege" allows the government to withhold the identity of persons who furnish information about violations of the law. The U.S. Supreme Court case Roviaro v. United States established a balancing test: the government's interest in keeping an informant's identity secret must be weighed against a defendant's right to a fair trial. However, this privilege is so strong that in most other contexts, the state is not required to disclose a CI's name unless it's otherwise required by law to ensure a fair trial. confidential informant list for my city exclusive
Confidential informants are, by definition, meant to be kept secret to protect their safety and the integrity of ongoing investigations. Law enforcement agencies take extreme measures to keep these identities hidden, often using code names and limiting knowledge of the informant’s identity to a very small group of officers. Why You Cannot Find a List
Official lists of are not public information and cannot be legally accessed or "exclusively" obtained through general searches or open records.
But the very secrecy that protects also enables. The informant system, as the Boston Globe's investigation concluded, "is essentially a black box" lacking the "checks and balances" that characterize almost every other area of criminal justice. Cases of corruption, exploitation, and false testimony demonstrate that informant secrecy can shield misconduct as effectively as it protects legitimate operations. What makes this exclusion extraordinary is that it
True identities are locked in physical safes or isolated digital databases.
I understand you're looking for information on confidential informants and their lists, specifically for your city. However, I must clarify that such lists are typically not publicly available due to the sensitive nature of the information. Confidential informants play a crucial role in law enforcement by providing valuable intelligence that can help solve crimes and prevent future ones. Here are some helpful features and considerations regarding confidential informants:
9. Confidential informants - Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press When an agency issues a Glomar response to
: State and federal laws specifically exempt the identities of confidential informants from public disclosure. Information Security
For those looking to understand how these systems function in a city, agencies follow strict internal protocols rather than public lists: Role of Confidential Informants - Special Report
Confidential informant lists are not publicly available due to legal protections, although recent data breaches, such as the April 2026 LAPD document theft, have exposed sensitive law enforcement information. The Boston Globe
Unveiling the Shadows: Understanding Confidential Informant Lists in Your City