Informants and Incentivized Witnesses

Case Examples

Publications

Legislation

Proposals to prevent wrongful convictions:

  • Electronic recording of law enforcement discussions with witnesses.
  • Electronic recording of jailhouse conversations between informants and suspects
  • Strict enforcement of discovery rules, including disclosure of promises of leniency, cash, or anything else of value in exchange for witnesses' cooperation.
  • Pretrial hearings on the reliability of informant testimony.
  • Amendment of the Illinois informant testimony statute to apply to all criminal prosecutions.

Online resources: