Confidential Informant List Indiana

Imagine a drug case where the only evidence against a defendant comes from a CI’s single controlled buy. The defense argues the defendant wasn’t present. The judge might order disclosure of that informant’s identity so the defense can impeach their credibility (e.g., prior criminal history, incentive to lie). But the rest of the list remains sealed.

This is where the keyword "confidential informant list Indiana" intersects with criminal defense. Under the Sixth Amendment and Brady v. Maryland, prosecutors must turn over exculpatory evidence. But the U.S. Supreme Court’s balancing test from Roviaro v. United States (1957) governs informant privilege. confidential informant list indiana

In Indiana, a defendant can file a motion for disclosure of informant identity. However, the court applies a three-part test: Imagine a drug case where the only evidence

In practice, Indiana judges rarely order the release of the entire informant list. Instead, they may order in camera review—the judge examines the list privately and releases only the relevant informant’s identity if it would help prove innocence. In practice, Indiana judges rarely order the release

Indiana has a grim history of retaliation against informants. In 2014, a confidential informant in Lake County was shot and killed after his identity was leaked in a police report that was left unsecured. In 2019, a Gary, Indiana man was charged with murdering a woman he believed was cooperating with police.

These real-world consequences drive the extreme secrecy. Many police departments in Indiana require informants to sign nondisclosure agreements, and some use “blind informant” systems where even the officer handling the CI may not know their real name.

If a CI accuses a police officer of misconduct (e.g., coercion or non-payment), internal investigative files may be subject to disclosure—though often heavily redacted.