What quality is needed from an informant?

• A. Justified suspicion.
• B. Reliable and credible.
• C. A sworn affidavit.
• D. A criminal record.

Answer: (B)

Reliable and credible describe the essential qualities an informant should have. Reliability means you can count on the information they provide to be consistent and accurate over time. Credibility means the informant is truthful and believable, even under scrutiny, so others would accept their statements as trustworthy. When an informant combines these traits, investigators can rely on the tip, corroborate it with independent evidence, and use it to guide actions with greater confidence. A sworn affidavit is a formal document, not a personal quality of the informant, and a criminal record would typically undermine trust and usefulness of the information. So the best choice is reliable and credible.