, there is no official public list of confidential informants
Possessing or distributing an actual confidential informant list is a fast track to federal charges. At a minimum, you could face or Tampering with a Witness . At worst, if an informant is harmed based on that list, you’re looking at conspiracy to commit murder or federal retaliation charges.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal procedures regarding confidential informants can be complex and depend heavily on the specifics of each case.
That said, here is a explaining what the CI list is, who can access it, legal protections, and what defense attorneys or journalists need to know. confidential informant list indiana
Indiana Code § 4-2-7-8 explicitly allows investigative records of the Inspector General to remain confidential, making the unauthorized disclosure of a confidential informant's identity a Class A misdemeanor . 3. Disclosure in Criminal Cases
Even in these circumstances, the disclosure is typically limited to the specific CI at issue, not the entire universe of informants.
Beyond the common law privilege, Indiana has codified specific protections for informants who disclose information to certain government entities. Under Indiana Code § 4-2-7-8, the identity of any individual who discloses in good faith to the inspector general information alleging a violation of state or federal law "is confidential and may not be disclosed" to anyone other than the governor, the inspector general's staff, or other authorized recipients. , there is no official public list of
A more recent case, State v. Jones (169 N.E.3d 397), addressed the scope of the informer's privilege in the context of a defendant seeking a face-to-face interview with a CI. The court held that just as the informer's privilege protects an informant's name and address, the privilege must also protect a CI's physical appearance. If the State shows the defendant is requesting a face-to-face interaction, the State has necessarily met the threshold to invoke the confidential informer's privilege.
If you are looking for information about an informant in a specific legal case, you generally cannot find it through a public search. Indiana law protects these identities unless specific legal thresholds are met:
. Law enforcement agencies maintain highly secure, non-public databases of informants to protect their safety and the integrity of active investigations. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only
Intentionally exposing or attempting to create a public "confidential informant list" in Indiana carries severe legal consequences. Retaliation against a witness or an informant is a high-level felony.
If the confidential informant did not just provide a tip, but actively participated in the alleged crime (e.g., buying drugs during a controlled buy as an essential witness), their identity must generally be disclosed. If the informant's testimony is critical to determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant, the state cannot hide behind the privilege. 2. The Defendant Demonstrates Essential Need
Crucially for this discussion, APRA explicitly exempts two main categories that cover confidential informant information: