What prerequisite step should be taken before working with an informant?

Before working with an informant, it is critical to examine their background for warrants because this step helps ensure the safety and integrity of the operation. Informants could have ongoing legal issues that may complicate their reliability or impact the operation negatively. By verifying if the informant has any outstanding warrants, law enforcement can anticipate potential issues, such as being arrested during the investigation, which could jeopardize the informant’s ability to provide valuable information or lead to unexpected legal complications for the agency involved.

Ensuring that the informant does not have current warrants allows for a more organized and secure working relationship, minimizing risks associated with cooperation. This step also helps protect the informant from sudden apprehension, which could disrupt ongoing investigations or compromise safety. Overall, background checks on warrants are a foundational step in assessing the suitability and reliability of an informant.