Quote:
<<sad thing here is that someone lost their life, convicted felon or not.>>
... for sure...
Quote:
As we traverse the criminal justice system there should be no doubt that we will come into contact with convicted felons, that is the nature of the business. The question is how well do you manage these individuals as it relates to your business.
... now that is a defining statement!!...
Quote:
<<not aware of any state laws that prohibit the use of a confidential informant by this profession. But be mindful to set standards as to what and how you want your informant to obtain information…>>
... I have used info from all sorts of shady characters... felons, prostitutes, druggies... all sorts who have provided info for money and often for free... they all seem to want to put the hammer on others in their world... just seems to be the nature of their profile... I think
"how you want your informant to obtain information" is the key here... if they have physical contact with the "perp" and especially if they are contacted by LE in the course of the case and use your name as the info recipient... you are in the mix whether you have a paper contract or not... you really need to be aware of this because you can be connected simply out of association and nothing more... and lets all be up front here.... LE and many courts/judges/clerks/prosecuting attorneys... are not on our side and would like nothing better than to hang us out to dry....
... if you get a subpena into court, you are already on the bottom side of this mix... believe me... even in the courts that you feel comfortable in... there are always members of that community that would like to shut you down... and that dear readers is the name of this game.... CYA and total awareness... sooner or later you will come up against this situation.
Scott M, Bill W and DSI, I am sure, have all experienced what I am speaking of here.. I certainly have...
DSI... thanks for pointing this out............. it is, IMHO... a very, very important part of tracing that doesn't come up often.... thanks. Guilt by association can shut you down, instantly or at the very least, put a dark cloud over your stellar reputation....