NCJ Number: 194603
Title: Hunting Terrorists Using Confidential Informant Reward Programs
Journal: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume:71 Issue:4 Dated:April 2002 Pages:26-31
Author(s): Douglas A. Kash J.D.
Date Published: April 2002
Page Count: 6
Sponsoring Agency: NCJRS Photocopy Services
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Document: HTML
Type: Legislation/Policy Description
Format: Article
Language: English
Country: United States of America
Annotation: This article identifies and describes the various reward
mechanisms that can be used for obtaining terrorist-related
information.
Abstract: Rewards for information related to terrorism were established by
the 1984 Act To Combat International Terrorism. Excluding
government employees who have acted within the scope of their
official duties, an individual is entitled to a reward of up to
$500,000. Rewards of up to $100,000 can be paid with the approval
of the Attorney General, and a reward of $100,000 or more
requires the approval of the President or Attorney General.
Rewards are deemed conclusive, and no court has the power or
jurisdiction to review it. Although the informant's identity is
kept classified, informants and their immediate families are
eligible to participate in the Attorney General's witness
protection program. The recently enacted PATRIOT Act amended the
reward program's authority by increasing the amount of money
offered or paid to an informant. Now, a reward of $250,000 or
more requires the personal approval of the President or Attorney
General. The PATRIOT Act also mandates that if an award is
approved under it, the Attorney General must provide written
notice to the chairmen and ranking minority members of the
Committees of Appropriations and the Judiciary in the Senate and
House of Representatives not later than 30 days after the
approval. The Attorney General's refusal to provide a reward is
not subject to judicial review. In addition to a monetary reward,
the Immigration and Naturalization Service has the authority,
under specific limited circumstances, to grant special visas to
nonimmigrants and their immediate families. A new immigration
regulation established an "S" visa, which provides for a
temporary and potentially permanent stay within the United
States. The U.S. State Department also has the authority to pay
rewards for information on terrorism. The U.S. intelligence
community continues to develop its information-gathering
techniques and recruit sources who, not withstanding their
religious or political affiliations, are willing to provide
confidential information in an effort to avoid attacks on those
who cherish freedom and provide for its security. 35 notes
Main Term(s): Domestic Preparedness
Index Term(s): Citizen information rewards; Counter-terrorism tactics; Informants
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