Authorization of Otherwise Illegal Activity

  1. General Provisions

    1. A JLEA shall not authorize a CI to engage in any activity that otherwise would constitute a misdemeanor or felony under federal, state, or local law if engaged in by a person acting without authorization, except as provided in the authorization provisions in paragraph (III)(C)(2) below.
    2. A JLEA is never permitted to authorize a CI to:

      1. participate in an act of violence;
      2. participate in an act that constitutes obstruction of justice (e.g., perjury, witness tampering, witness intimidation, entrapment, or the fabrication, alteration, or destruction of evidence);
      3. participate in an act designed to obtain information for the JLEA that would be unlawful if conducted by a law enforcement agent (e.g., breaking and entering, illegal wiretapping, illegal opening or tampering with the mail, or trespass amounting to an illegal search); or
      4. initiate or instigate a plan or strategy to commit a federal, state, or local offense.
  2. Authorization

    1. Tier 1 Otherwise Illegal Activity must be authorized in advance and in writing for a specified period, not to exceed 90 days, by:

      1. a JLEA's Special Agent in Charge (or the equivalent); and
      2. the appropriate Chief Federal Prosecutor.9
    2. Tier 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity must be authorized in advance and in writing for a specified period, not to exceed 90 days, by a JLEA's Senior Field Manager.
    3. For purposes of this paragraph, the "appropriate Chief Federal Prosecutor" is the Chief Federal Prosecutor that: (i) is participating in the conduct of an investigation by a JLEA that is utilizing that active CI, or is working with that active CI in connection with a prosecution; (ii) with respect to Otherwise Illegal Activity that would constitute a violation of federal law, would have primary jurisdiction to prosecute the Otherwise Illegal Activity; or (iii) with respect to Otherwise Illegal Activity that would constitute a violation only of state or local law, is located where the otherwise criminal activity is to occur.
  3. Findings

    1. The JLEA official who authorizes Tier 1 or 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity must make a finding, which shall be documented in the CI's files, that authorization for the CI to engage in the Tier 1 or 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity is -

      1. necessary either to -

        1. obtain information or evidence essential for the success of an investigation that is not reasonably available without such authorization, or
        2. prevent death, serious bodily injury, or significant damage to property; and
      2. that in either case the benefits to be obtained from the CI's participation in the Tier 1 or 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity outweigh the risks.
    2. In making these findings, the JLEA shall consider, among other things:

      1. the importance of the investigation;
      2. the likelihood that the information or evidence sought will be obtained;
      3. the risk that the CI might misunderstand or exceed the scope of his authorization;
      4. the extent of the CI's participation in the Otherwise Illegal Activity;
      5. the risk that the JLEA will not be able to supervise closely the CI's participation in the Otherwise Illegal Activity;
      6. the risk of violence, physical injury, property damage, and financial loss to the CI or others; and
      7. the risk that the JLEA will not be able to ensure that the CI does not profit from his or her participation in the authorized Otherwise Illegal Activity.
  4. Instructions

    1. After a CI is authorized to engage in Tier 1 or 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity, at least one agent of the JLEA, along with one additional agent or other law enforcement official present as a witness, shall review with the CI written instructions that state, at a minimum, that:

      1. the CI is authorized only to engage in the specific conduct set forth in the written authorization described above and not in any other illegal activity;
      2. the CI's authorization is limited to the time period specified in the written authorization;
      3. under no circumstance may the CI:

        1. participate in an act of violence;
        2. participate in an act that constitutes obstruction of justice (e.g., perjury, witness tampering, witness intimidation, entrapment, or the fabrication, alteration, or destruction of evidence);
        3. participate in an act designed to obtain information for the JLEA that would be unlawful if conducted by a law enforcement agent (e.g., breaking and entering, illegal wiretapping, illegal opening or tampering with the mail, or trespass amounting to an illegal search); or
        4. initiate or instigate a plan or strategy to commit a federal, state, or local offense;
      4. if the CI is asked by any person to participate in any such prohibited conduct, or if he or she learns of plans to engage in such conduct, he or she must immediately report the matter to his or her contact agent; and
      5. participation in any prohibited conduct could subject the CI to full criminal prosecution.
    2. b. Immediately after these instructions have been given, the CI shall be required to sign or initial, and date, a written acknowledgment of the instructions.10 As soon as practicable thereafter, a Field Manager shall review and, if warranted, approve the written acknowledgment.
  5. Precautionary Measures

    Whenever a JLEA has authorized a CI to engage in Tier 1 or 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity, it must take all reasonable steps to: (a) supervise closely the illegal activities of the CI; (b) minimize the adverse effect of the authorized Otherwise Illegal Activity on innocent individuals; and (c) ensure that the CI does not profit from his or her participation in the authorized Otherwise Illegal Activity.
  6. Suspension of Authorization

    Whenever a JLEA cannot, for legitimate reasons unrelated to the CI's conduct (e.g., unavailability of the case agent), comply with the precautionary measures described above, it shall immediately: (a) suspend the CI's authorization to engage in Otherwise Illegal Activity until such time as the precautionary measures can be complied with; (b) inform the CI that his or her authorization to engage in any Otherwise Illegal Activity has been suspended until that time; and (c) document these actions in the CI's files.
  7. Revocation of Authorization

    1. If a JLEA has reason to believe that a CI has failed to comply with the specific terms of the authorization of Tier 1 or 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity, it shall immediately: (i) revoke the CI's authorization to engage in Otherwise Illegal Activity; (ii) inform the CI that he or she is no longer authorized to engage in any Otherwise Illegal Activity; (iii) comply with the notification requirement of paragraph (IV)(B) below; (iv) make a determination whether the CI should be deactivated pursuant to paragraph (V); and (v) document these actions in the CI's files.
    2. Immediately afer the CI has been informed that he or she is no longer authorized to engage in any Otherwise Illegal Activity, the CI shall be required to sign or initial, and date, a written acknowledgment that he or she has been informed of this fact.11 As soon as practicable thereafter, a Field Manager shall review and, if warranted, approve the written acknowledgment.
  8. Renewal and Expansion of Authorization

    1. A JLEA that seeks to re-authorize any CI to engage in Tier 1 or 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity after the expiration of the authorized time period, or after revocation of authorization, must first comply with the procedures set forth above in paragraphs (III)(C)(2)-(5).
    2. A JLEA that seeks to expand in any material way a CI's authorization to engage in Tier 1 or 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity by the JLEA must first comply with the procedures set forth above in paragraphs (III)(C)(2)-(5).
  9. Emergency Authorization

    1. In exceptional circumstances, a JLEA's Special Agent in Charge (or the equivalent) and the appropriate Chief Federal Prosecutor may orally authorize a CI to engage in Tier 1 Otherwise Illegal Activity without complying with the documentation requirements of paragraphs (III)(C)(2)-(4) above when they each determine that a highly significant and unanticipated investigative opportunity would be lost were the time taken to comply with these requirements. In such an event, the documentation requirements, as well as a written justification for the oral authorization, shall be completed within 48 hours of the oral approval and maintained in the CI's files.
    2. In exceptional circumstances, a JLEA's Senior Field Manager may orally authorize a CI to engage in Tier 2 Otherwise Illegal Activity without complying with the documentation requirements of paragraphs (III)(C)(2)-(4) above when he or she determines that a highly significant and unanticipated investigative opportunity would be lost were the time taken to comply with these requirements. In such an event, the documentation requirements, as well as a written justification for the oral authorization, shall be completed within 48 hours of the oral approval and maintained in the CI's files.
  10. 10. Designees

    A JLEA's Special Agent in Charge (or the equivalent) and the appropriate Chief Federal Prosecutor may, with the concurrence of each other, agree to designate particular individuals in their respective offices to carry out the approval functions assigned to them above in paragraphs (III)(C)(2)-(9).

9 Even without an express act of Congress authorizing the conduct at issue, it is within the power and the duty of federal prosecutors, as executive branch officers, to take reasonable measures to discharge the duties imposed on them as executive branch officers, and they will be immune from state action if they take such measures under color of federal law and in good faith.

10 The CI may sign or initial the written acknowledgment by using a pseudonym which has been previously approved and documented in the CI's files and designated for use by only one CI.

11 The CI may sign or initial the written acknowledgment by using a pseudonym which has been previously approved and documented in the CI's files and designated for use by only one CI. If the CI refuses to sign or initial the written acknowledgment, the JLEA agent who informed the CI of the revocation of authorization shall document that the CI has orally acknowledged being so informed and the Field Manager shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, review and, if warranted, approve the written documentation.

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