Under the MBE framework, which statement about informants is true?

• A. Anonymous informants are not allowed and must be disclosed.
• B. Anonymous informants are allowed and there is no requirement to disclose basis reliability or identity.
• C. The reliability of informants must always be demonstrated.
• D. The informant's identity must always be disclosed.

Answer: (B)

Under the MBE framework, the assessment of informants uses a totality-of-the-circumstances approach to probable cause. This means anonymous tips can be relied upon if their content is supported by independent corroborating evidence, and there isn’t an automatic requirement to disclose the informant’s identity or to prove the informant’s reliability in a separate, formal way. The judge weighs all factors together to determine if probable cause exists, rather than applying a rigid two-pronged test.

So anonymous informants are allowed, and there’s no blanket requirement to disclose the basis of knowledge or the informant’s identity. The other statements are not accurate: anonymity isn’t forbidden, reliability doesn’t have to be demonstrated in a rigid manner for every tip, and the informant’s identity does not have to be disclosed in every case.