Lo. BUREAU POLICY 1. 2. INDOCTRINATION, DIRECTION, AND CONTROL OF INFORMANTS 1. _Divulging information to informant - SECTION 107. .SECURITY INFORMANTS AND CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES. LO7D-F Except in espionage and foreign nationality matters where contact is maintained on a periodic basis dependent on circumstances, contact potential informants personally at least once every two weeks. Advise Bureau of progress being made 2t least every six months. Sub- mit letters (FD-401) concerning potential informants who are not being paid on Bureau authorization on UACB basis; include summary of infor- mation furnished during past six months and certifications regarding stability and indoctrination against disclosure. Follow form indicated under § 107L, item 3b, below, except those items concerning. payments. Post record of all contacts with potential informants. During contacts with potential informants, if it develops individual does not have necessary capabilities, discontinue efforts. informants may raise a question concerning their position if it becomes known publicly they are affiliated with subversive organization. Tn . such case, he may be told that his cooperation is matter of record in FBI and if some question arises concerning his loyalty we will consider making facts of his cooperation known to his employer or to résponsible individuals. Before taking steps to advise anyone of potential infor- mant's or informant's cooperation, obtain Bureau authority. From first interview with potential informant through development and- until discontinued, use extreme caution at all times to be certain he is not a plant. When potential informant begins to furnish current information and otherwise qualifies for designation as informant, assign permanent symbol number and advise Bureau. This communication must be personally initialed by SAC or ASAC acting in his absence, Individual's background must be thoroughly reviewed at this time, keaping in mind possibility of using informant as witness. If individual has any weaknesses, set forth safeguards being followed to insure security and prevent embarrassment to Bureau. Development of military personnel Do not develop informants among military personnel on militery reserva- tions, establishments, etc., unless specifically approved by ‘Bureau. Contacts by designated Agents Contacts with informant or potential informant should only be made by Agent or Agents specifically designated to contact him. No information should be divulged to potential informant or informant concerning any of Bureau's investigative activity other than that which - is essential to his proper operation. Recording investigative activity AlL investigative activity must be made matter of record in field office . files with all sources of information being completely identified. Agents must not have and use informants known only to individual Agents personally. Caution against divulging relationship During initial development and consistently thereafter, impress upon informant absolute necessity that he refrain from divulging his. rela- tionship with Bureau. These instructions must be properly phrased to prevent possibility of Bureau's being accused of attempting to impose censorshind. Developing additional background : During development of informant, additional data concerning his back- ground should be continuously obtained from informant. Be alert for data revealing he is mentally or emotionally unstable, or has some - ° - personal problem which would make him a risk, Indications of instability Immediately furnish details of any indications of instability to Bureau, with recommendations as to informant's continuance and comments as to any steps being taken to prevent embarrassment to Bureau. 5-13-71 | NW 55072 Doold: 32989529 Page 1704 : - ; .
LOT (ioe Wen Banat Bt peed Bee] NW 35072 7G-D SECTION 0 SECURITY INFORMANTS AND conrr@ rrr SOURCES, 3. Inquiries of discreet nature concerning individual's personal history {date and place of birth, etc.), patriotism, health, reliability, stability, integrity, general reputation, present and past employments, and business connections, Investigation must definitely establish that individual can be used without danger of future embarrassment due to instability or unreliability. Securing background information from individual is not sufficient; his background must be established by investigation, including discreet inquiries among persons personally acquainted with: him. . . . 4. Check of local credit and arrest records. Submit FD-165 to Tdentifica- tion Division to obtain any record he may have and to place stop against fingerprints if on file. 5. Review armed services record if applicable. 6. Check draft status or status in armed forces reserve, . . 7. Gheck domestic status and, if any marital difficulties, obtain details. &. Persons being considered for use in espionage and foreign nationality - cases may present special problems which limit scope of investigation. (See instructions re contact cases and deseco program, section 105, volume IV, of this manual, ) However, where practical, cover above items. _ Leads must be handled by auxiliary offices within 30 days. Investigation must be completed prior to any request to guide, direct, or designate in- dividual as potential security informant. . , APPROVAL, INDOCTRINATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIAL INFORMANTS i. When background information obtained, transmit results to Bureau in same numerical sequence set out in subsection C, and request authority to des- ignate individual as Bureau-approved potential security informant and to proceed with development. Do not submit on UACB basis. Include physical description, , ‘fa. If the individual is a student, include’ separate ‘paragraph clearly setting forth the number of racial and/or security informants, the number of potential racial and/or potential security informants, and the number of panel sources currently being operated at the particular ( college or university to which the request pertains. ] : . @. After designation as Bureau-approved potential security informant, fol- : lowing matters should be made clear to him: . : a. His assistance is strictly voluntary and he is to understand there is no coercion or intimidation involved. b. He is not and cannot consider himself employee or "undercover Agent" of FBI. Seriousness of violating impersonation statutes must be impressed upon him. -- . - c. His cooperation must be strictly confidential at all times and if he should feel he cannot maintain this confidence, he should so advise. There should be no doubt left in mind of potential informant that his relationship must remain on confidential basis and if he violates confidence he will be of no value and by so doing Bureau's investigative activity may be jeopardized, If he has special problem which would require revealing his assistance to his wife or other pertinent individual, this should be ascertained and appropriate recommendation made to Bureau. : . ad. If potential informant is connected in any manner with labor union, inform him that Bureau is not interested in employer-employee relation~ ships as such and is only concerned with obtaining information on infiltration of unions by subversive elements. e. If potential informant is student, teacher, or has any similar relations with school, college, or university, in initial interview and subsequent handling, follow current instructions concerning in- vestigations on campuses. , ‘ 3. Do not interview female potential informants in their homes or apartments unless necessary and any such interviews should be conducted by two Agents after specific approval of superior in field office responsible , . for development of informants. This instruction is not applicable where active investigation has established that potential informant is of good character, there is no indication of affiliation with subversive groups, and there will be no embarrassment to Bureau. oe 5-13-71 Docld: 32989525 Page i705
SECTION 107 eo INFORMANTS AND CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES 107A~C DEFINITIONS 1. Security informant Individual actively engaged in obtaining and furnishing current informa- tion on security or intelligence matters exclusively for Bureau whose identity must be protected. Such person should be member or attend meetings of subversive organization, or be in such position relative to subversive organization that he is able to provide current information of value, 2. Potential security informant Individual in position to become active in or closely connected with subversive organization or intelligence activities and is making affirmative effort to obtain and furnish current information to Bureau. 3. Double agent Person cooperating with, receiving assignments from, and performing tasks for both foreign-intelligence service and Bureau under FBI guidance 4. Confidential source Individual who on confidential basis furnishes information available - ~ . through his present position. Examples would be: bankers and tele phone company employees. These individuals make no concerted effort in behalf of Bureau but furnish information veadily available to them, 5. Panel source . Individual who is not involved in subversive group but who will attend its public gatherings in behalf of FBI for intelligence pur poses or as potential witness SOURCES OF POTENTIAL INFORMANTS Informants should be developed on all organizations and individuals that are inimical to internal security. Informants may be obtained through alertness in course of normal investigative activity. Live informant coverage depends:: for most part upon initiative and resourcefulness of individual Agents and SACs. For assistance in obtaining potential informants, following is suggested: Ll. Evaluation of a. Complainants or other persons interviewed in security matters b. Subjects of security investigations who show disaffection, loss of . interest, inactivity, financial hardship, or other repudiation of party loyalty c. Personal friends and contacts of Bureau employees Gd. Sources of information, confidential sources, and contacts . 2. Review of closed security files, reserve index, and files of former security informants 3. Review factionalism section of file on Communist Party, USA. » Consultation with present informants regarding indications of disaffec~ tion on part of subversive group members. They should not be informed as to purpose of inguiry. 5. Review of Files on communist front organizations Looking for individuals who have been associated with only one or two fronts or who attended only a few meetings BACKGROUND INQUIRIES ON INDIVIDUALS BEING CONSIDERED FOR INFORMANT PURPOSES When decision is made to consider an individual for informant purposes, conduct background investigation. Extensive background investigation should not be conducted until individual has been interviewed and it has been determined he is willing to assist Bureau. Obtain prior Bureau authority to interview when- ever restrictions imposed in section 87, volume III, and section 105, volume IV, of this manual, relative to interviews apply. Background investigation should include: . 1. Check of field office files 2. Discreet canvass of logical informants 8-24-70 MW 55072 Docld: 32989529 Page i706
‘10. ii. = ; er ; ~ SECTION 107. Or cusrey INFORMANTS AND conrad ar SOURCES. Use of informant by Department - filing correspondence re From time to time, Department expresses interest in using particular informant for testifying when he becomes available as witness. Place copies of all correspondence of this type in informant's file. Occasionally such correspondence may be voluminous and apply to more than one informant. In those cases, summarize information concerning each informant and place summary in appropriate file. Form FD-238 . Form FD-238 (printed on pink paper) is used in security informant and potential security informant files in nature of table of contents or index to show where in file particular data can be found, This form is to be kept as top document in informant file and is not to be serialized. If particular section of form is not applicable, note such thereon. Bulky material submitted by informant Where informant or source submits bulky material other than statement and same pertains to specific investigative matter, bulky material may 7H be filed in investigative case file, together with copy of form FD-306 . .F or channelizing memorandum. File original form FD-306 or channelizing memorandum in subfile of informant or source and note thereon file and serial number where bulky material is located. L. PAYMENTS TO INFORMANTS 1. EE NE EET oS ° No gifts to informants a.’ Gifts should not be given to informants, b. Relationship between Agents and informants shall be maintained on businesslike basis. ec. Investigative employees must not approach, directly or indirectly, representatives of companies, private industries, or insurance: companies and request assistance regarding payments of money, gifts, or products of such companies to informants, SAG authority a, When deemed necessary and expedient to expend money to develop in- dividual as informant to obtain information concerning security matters which is not otherwise obtainable or to advance expense money - to obtain such information, SAC may approve payments up to $400 and ( totaling not more than $400 on a c.o.d. basis regardless of number of payments. This applies only to individuals who have never been regularly paid for services or expenses on Bureau authorization. b. Individual who is paid on SAC authority should not be described in correspondence as informant or source who is being paid on a "regular basis" or on "Bureau authorization." ec. Blue slip reclaiming payments authorized by SAC must clearly and accurately explain circumstances and summarize information obtained . so Bureau will be in position to pass intelligently on such matters, a. Prior Bureau authority must be obtained to make any additional payment to individual who has received payments totaling $400. Once individual hes been paid $400 and it appears he will furnish information on regular basis, recommendation should be made to Bureau to pay him on "regular basis." | Payments on 2 regular basis - Bureau authority a. To pay anyone on 2a regular basis, obtain specific Bureau authorization. bo In requesting this authorization, use form FD-401: my (1) Membership List current membership and position hel@ in any subversive group. (2) Amount paid for services and expenses , List by the month or week, Initial justification letter should set forth amount, if any, ever paid under SAC authority. Number of activities and persons on whom coverage is provided List number and type of meetings attended and other activities and number of persons on whom informant furnishes coverage and their importance. _~ QO) ~— 14 - 8-24-70 . NW 55072 Doold: 32989529 Page i707 . - + . ~