Here is a story from Kansas City, Missouri about a deputy sheriff from Harrison County who has been charged with evidence tampering. The case revolves around drug purchases made by a confidential informant (human source, CHIS) and the allegation that records were destroyed. We use it only to illustrate a problem. We do not need to discuss any further specific details of the case to identify the major problem here raised by the question - How can informant records be destroyed? Answer - they are on paper.
There is no excuse for a modern law enforcement agency not to keep all their informant records on a computer based system that blocks any unauthorized attempt to destroy or alter any record. If officers are using paper-based systems for the management of confidential informants the opportunities for records to be lost, altered or destroyed are huge. One moment of carelessness or wrongdoing and the record is gone. Paper-based systems create circumstances where corruption is much more likely to take place, purely because there are limited safeguards. The solution is secure software.
So what should confidential informant software do for an agency and how should it work:
The preferred option for smaller agencies is going to be a cloud based solution. Using a secure cloud such as that provided by Microsoft means that your data is safe and it saves you a considerable amount of money in IT costs. It also provides mobility. officers are not tied to a desk.
Cloud solutions allow the integration of computerized systems. An officer can make notes in an electronic notebook that are automatically uploaded into the informant management software. Photographs and audio recordings can also be uploaded directly. The software can be linked to case management solutions.
All informant records are stored in one place allowing access only for those granted permission. This includes registration documents, contact reports intelligence reports risk documents and operational policy logs.
All records can be centrally reviewed by supervisors or professional standards.
There is a record of any alteration to a document and details of who changed it, when they changed it and how it was changed.
The informant records are automatically anonymized aiding in any disclosure process. this saves money in processing costs.
There is a record of all financial transactions relating to the informant.
Patrol officers can take confidential information from citizens and upload it directly into the intelligence management software thus protecting the person who has provided information.
There was a time when purpose built software for informant management was prohibitively expensive for anyone but large agencies with their own support staff and servers. With the advent of secure cloud technology this means that this type of software is now available to any agency. For a Chief of Police or Sheriff concerned about how their agency is managing informants being able to access all informant records from their desktop is a big step towards managing the risk. And if they are looking for a system they are going to want one with all the features and one that has a long history of use. Probably the most comprehensive system available anywhere is the Pegasus Suite from Altia-ABM. They have everything and more than most agencies need. And the good news is that depending for smaller agencies, you can probably get it for less than the price of your last squad car.
At HSM we have seen systems that work and ones that don’t. We have seen agencies spend $1 million to build software for managing informants that is little more than a spread sheet. Regardless of the size of your agency or where you are located give us a call (+44 7739 370 969) or email info@hsmtraining.com and we help you with what you need and discuss any problems you are likely to encounter. You don’t have to make the mistakes others have made.
