There are numerous ways for the state to develop a criminal case. The more objective the evidence is, the more powerful it may be during criminal proceedings.
When police officers don’t gather much objective evidence, prosecutors may end up relying on questionable sources of information to validate their allegations against individuals. In some cases, the state may bring in jailhouse informants. They testify to convince the courts that an individual made statements that implicated them or gave an outright confession while in state custody.
Contrary to what people sometimes think, jailhouse informants do not necessarily provide the strongest evidence.
There are two sides to every story
The reliability of eyewitness testimony is questionable even in the best of circumstances. Factors ranging from how trauma affects the brain to leading questions asked by law enforcement professionals can undermine the accuracy of an eyewitness’s statements about an incident.
When the main witness wasn’t present at the time of the crime but rather repeats what they heard or saw while in the state facility, there is more reason than usual to question their statements. The story they heard may have been exaggerated for clout, and what they claim occurred could be exaggerated.
Typically, jailhouse informants cooperate with the state in exchange for lenient treatment. In some cases, prosecutors may agree not to bring charges against them at all if they can offer information that leads to a conviction in another case. Other times, they might be eligible for reduced charges or penalties because they acted as an informant.
That can lead to exaggeration or outright fabrication from jailhouse informants who want to avoid the worst possible penalties when facing criminal charges. Even those with the best of intentions may have been under the influence or could have limited credibility due to their background.
Many criminal defense strategies focus on undermining or excluding evidence. Questioning the statements made by a jailhouse informant could help a defendant avoid a conviction when accused of crimes with minimal objective evidence.