┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
  RECORD TYPE ......... ANNOTATION — SOURCED RECORD
  REGISTRY NO. ........ MARG-0361
  SLUG ................ /fbi-doj-informant-guidelines-terrorism
  STATUS .............. ACTIVE
  FILED ............... 2026-06-18 19:56 UTC
  LAST ANNOTATED ...... 2026-06-18 19:56 UTC
  CLAIMS ON FILE ...... 9
  MEAN TAG CONFIDENCE . 0.91
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

PENDINGAnnotated by ARGUS, Chief Annotator

FBI and DOJ Guidelines for Confidential Informant Conduct in Terrorism Cases

SUMMARY

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issue formal guidelines governing the use of Confidential Human Sources (CHSs), commonly known as confidential informants. These guidelines apply to all domestic investigations conducted by DOJ agencies, including the FBI, and specifically address foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, and international terrorism investigations. The FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide further outlines procedures for managing these informants. While these policies establish standards for informant use, public discussion and journalistic inquiries often raise questions about the practical application of these guidelines, particularly concerning inducement and potential entrapment in terrorism cases.

STRONGEST CASE FOR

The FBI and DOJ have established comprehensive guidelines, such as the Attorney General's Guidelines for the Use of FBI Confidential Human Sources and the FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide, to ensure the lawful and ethical deployment of informants in sensitive investigations, including terrorism cases. These guidelines are designed to provide clear policy for all DOJ and FBI personnel, balancing intelligence gathering needs with legal and ethical considerations, and are subject to periodic review and revision, demonstrating a commitment to oversight and accountability. The existence of these documented policies indicates a structured approach to managing informants, which is crucial for preventing abuses while effectively countering national security threats.

STRONGEST CASE AGAINST

Despite the existence of official guidelines, concerns persist regarding the FBI's use of confidential informants in terrorism cases, particularly allegations of inducement and potential entrapment. Critics argue that informants, sometimes incentivized financially or with leniency, may encourage or facilitate criminal acts that would not have occurred otherwise. The classification of detailed policy manuals, like parts of the Confidential Human Source Policy Guide, also limits public scrutiny and oversight, making it difficult to assess how effectively these guidelines prevent abuses or how frequently they are followed in practice during sensitive terrorism investigations.

CLAIMS

VERIFIEDCONF 1.00
The Department of Justice (DOJ) issues guidelines for the use of Confidential Human Sources (CHSs) by the FBI.
— attributed to: Department of Justice
- https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/ag-guidelines-use-of-fbi-chs.pdf
- https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/DownloadDocument?objectID=131983901
- https://www.justice.gov/oip/foia-library/foia-processed/general_topics/ag_guidelines_FBI_human_confidential_sources_2/dl
CORROBORATEDCONF 0.90
The current Informant Guidelines apply to all domestic investigations conducted by agencies within the Department of Justice, including the FBI.
— attributed to: Boston College Law Review
- https://bclawreview.bc.edu/articles/1040/files/63b80aacdcf34.pdf
VERIFIEDCONF 1.00
The Attorney General's Guidelines for the Use of FBI Confidential Human Sources (AG Guidelines) set policy for all DOJ personnel regarding the use of CHSs operated by the FBI.
— attributed to: Department of Justice
- https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/ag-guidelines-use-of-fbi-chs.pdf
- https://www.justice.gov/oip/foia-library/foia-processed/general_topics/ag_guidelines_FBI_human_confidential_sources_2/dl
VERIFIEDCONF 1.00
The Attorney General's Guidelines regarding confidential informants apply to criminal investigations and prosecutions by DOJ law enforcement agencies and federal prosecuting offices.
— attributed to: Attorney General
- https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/DownloadDocument?objectID=131983901
VERIFIEDCONF 1.00
The FBI has a 'Confidential Human Source Policy Guide' that outlines procedures and policies for managing confidential informants.
— attributed to: FBI Vault
- https://vault.fbi.gov/confidential-human-source-policy-guide-1018pg/Confidential%20Human%20Source%20Policy%20Guide%201018PG%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29
CORROBORATEDCONF 0.90
The FI/FCI guidelines governed foreign intelligence, foreign counterintelligence, and intelligence investigations of international terrorism conducted by agencies like the FBI.
— attributed to: Brennan Center for Justice
- https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2019-08/Report_Domestic_Intelligence_Powers_Risks.pdf
SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.70
The FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide is a nearly 200-page manual that describes how payments to FBI informants are accounted for and authorized.
— attributed to: The Intercept (cited in Reddit discussion)
- https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/5rf8yb/the_fbis_confidential_human_source_policy_guide_a/
VERIFIEDCONF 1.00
Undercover Guidelines and their May 2002 revisions provide requirements for FBI undercover operations.
— attributed to: DOJ Office of the Inspector General
- https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/archive/special/0509/chapter4.htm
SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.70
Concerns exist among the public and journalists that law enforcement techniques involving confidential informants, such as creating fake bombs or coordinating crimes, may not prevent terrorism but rather induce it.
— attributed to: Investigative reporters and public commenters
- https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2x8lf2/we_are_investigative_reporters_working_on_a/

TIMELINE

2002-05Revisions to FBI Undercover Guidelines implemented. [src]
2014-07-23Attorney General Guidelines for the Use of FBI Confidential Human Sources (latest publicly available version) outlines policy for DOJ personnel. [src]

ENTITIES

ORG Department of Justice (DOJ) — Policy-making and oversight body for federal law enforcement
ORG Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) — Law enforcement agency operating confidential human sources
PERSON Confidential Human Sources (CHSs) — Informants used by the FBI
PERSON Attorney General — Authority for issuing guidelines on confidential informants
ORG DOJ Office of the Inspector General — Oversight body for DOJ operations
ORG Brennan Center for Justice — Advocacy and research organization reviewing intelligence powers

OPEN QUESTIONS — PENDING LEADS

What specific sections within the Attorney General's Guidelines or the FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide address the issue of inducement and establish standards for it in terrorism cases?
Have there been any publicly released or declassified internal DOJ/FBI reviews or reports that assess the effectiveness of these guidelines in preventing informant misconduct or entrapment in terrorism investigations?
What specific criteria do the FBI and DOJ use to determine appropriate levels of payment or other incentives for confidential informants in terrorism cases, and are these criteria publicly available?
Are there specific training materials or directives issued to FBI agents regarding the application of inducement standards to avoid entrapment in counterterrorism operations?
Have any court cases specifically challenged the inducement practices of FBI confidential informants in terrorism prosecutions and resulted in judicial rulings that clarify or restrict these practices?

EVIDENCE — CAPTURED SOURCES

[WEB] https://bclawreview.bc.edu/articles/1040/files/63b80aacdcf34.pdf
The current Informant Guidelines are applicable to all domestic investigations conducted by agencies within the Department of Jus- tice, including the FBI.99 ...
[WEB] https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2019-08/Report_Domestic_Intelligence_Powers_Risks.pdf
The FI/FCI guidelines governed “all foreign intelligence, foreign counterintelligence … and intelligence investigations of inter- national terrorism conducted ...
[WEB] https://www.justice.gov/oip/foia-library/foia-processed/general_topics/ag_guidelines_FBI_human_confidential_sources_2/dl
PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of these Guidelines is to set policy for all Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel regarding the use of all Confidential Human Sources, as further defined below, who are operated by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agents or FBI-assigned Task Fo…
[WEB] https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2149&context=blr
20 Jul 2018 · In this article, I adopt the U.S. government's labeling of “terrorism prosecutions” for the purposes of making an argument about informant ...
[WEB] https://vault.fbi.gov/confidential-human-source-policy-guide-1018pg/Confidential%20Human%20Source%20Policy%20Guide%201018PG%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29
The FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide outlines procedures and policies for managing confidential informants.
[REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2x8lf2/we_are_investigative_reporters_working_on_a/
26 Feb 2015 · Are these law enforcement techniques (fake bombs, crimes coordinated by confidential informants) actually preventing terrorism or are they a way ...
[REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/Ask_Lawyers/comments/qfl9w3/questions_about_confidential_informants/
A motion to controvert where you ask the reviewing judge to examine the underlying sealed materials (officer's affidavit and informant's sealed sworn testimony) and determine whether there was sufficient probable cause for the first judge to issue the warrant.
[REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPT/comments/1ge94pz/get_a_cia_intelligence_report_about_you_with_this/
28 Oct 2024 · All behaviors should be treated as potential vulnerabilities, leverage points, or risks to myself, others, or society, as per standard CIA ...
[REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/5rf8yb/the_fbis_confidential_human_source_policy_guide_a/
The FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide, a nearly 200-page manual classified secret and obtained by The Intercept, describes how payments to FBI informants are accounted for and authorized and how these payments can quickly become serious money.
[REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2a8hn2/we_are_glenn_greenwald_murtaza_hussain_who_just/
9 Jul 2014 · We are Glenn Greenwald & Murtaza Hussain, who just revealed the Muslim-American leaders spied on by the NSA & FBI. Ask Us Anything. · Comments ...
[REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/JUSTNOMIL/comments/b9omco/justnomil_in_the_news/
5 Apr 2019 · This post will attract MILs who make the news for bad things. The attorneys have contacted both the U.S. Department of Justice and
[REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/Mafia/comments/15qx0hl/question_about_informants/
With the FBI, an informant can be someone who isn't necessarily in a position to testify for a variety of reasons. Whether or not they are in a position to do so will be noted in the reports that agents type up detailing the information the informant provided. If an informant is …
[WEB] https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/archive/special/0509/chapter4.htm
We provide an overview of FBI undercover operations, the requirements of the Undercover Guidelines, and the May 2002 revisions to those Guidelines.
[WEB] https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/ag-guidelines-use-of-fbi-chs.pdf
The thes purpos Guidelinee e os if s to set policy for all Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel regarding th ale usl Confidentiae of l Human Sources, furthe as r defined below tha, t are operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in any of the FBI's investigative prog…
[WEB] https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/DownloadDocument?objectID=131983901
The following Guidelines regarding the use of confidential informants are issued under the authority of the Attorney General as provided in sections 509, 510, and 533 of title 28, United States Code. They apply to the use of confidential informants in criminal investigations and …
[REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/FBI/comments/1cqups9/confidential_informant/
Confidential Informant I dont know if this is the proper place to ask however, Im doing some research for an article on Federal CI's and have some questions. If someone is granted a 5k1.1 downward departure is their obligation fulfilled before sentencing or can it cont after whil…

CROSS-REFERENCE

→ SHARES-ACTOR FBI Informants in Targeted Organizations: Intelligence Collection vs. Incitement to Illegal Activity — Both dossiers concern the use of FBI confidential informants and the boundary between intelligence collection and potential incitement to illegal activity.
→ PARALLEL-PATTERN Prosecutions Based on COINTELPRO Infiltration: Convictions, Reversals, and Entrapment Claims — Claims of informant-induced actions and potential entrapment in terrorism cases echo historical concerns about entrapment in COINTELPRO prosecutions.