On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:57:09 -0500, "Robert Green"
wrote:

They were convicted based on the fabricated testimony of dozens
of jailhouse informants-participants in a for-profit snitch ring operating
in the local federal prison. As part of that ring, prisoners were buying and
selling information about pending cases to offer to prosecutors in order to
reduce their own sentences

What agency was using these (federal prison) informants?

There is a long standing federal prison policy about confidential
informants (CI). The policy is intended to establish credibility of
the information provided. It includes procedures to protect the CI
from retaliation without giving the identification, so only an
assigned "number" is used in any reports.

The real name and CI number are locked in the Warden's safe and only
perhaps two staff members have access to that file.

The Special Investigative Supervisor (SIS) keeps a file in their
office safe with only the "number" (daily use without the CI name).

This file is a chronological list of cases and information provided.
The CI only becomes _credible_ after about three cases are proven
accurate. It also includes those instances when the information was
proven to be false. The system works and works well when followed.

Outside LE (state / local) agencies will not have access to that file
or know the credibility of the CI.

If some agency visited the federal prisoner in the visiting room, took
his / her word, and abused the information then it falls on them.

...." jailhouse informants" in local facilities pending trial are not
often validated with a history of accuracy...