Probable cause for an informant assessment includes which two factors?

• A. Veracity or reliability of the source
• B. Basis of the informant's knowledge
• C. Both of the above
• D. None of the above

Answer: (C)

The idea behind evaluating informant tips for probable cause rests on two essential elements: veracity (reliability) of the informant and the basis of the informant’s knowledge. Veracity asks whether the informant is generally truthful and reliable—do they have a history of providing accurate information, and is there any reason to expect honesty in their current tip? Basis of knowledge looks at where the informant’s information comes from—did they personally observe the facts, or did they obtain the information from others or rumors?

Both factors matter because a credible informant who has firsthand information provides stronger support for probable cause than one who is credible but relies on secondhand hearsay, or vice versa. If reliability is high but the basis of knowledge is weak, corroboration from independent evidence is typically sought; if the basis of knowledge is strong but the informant’s credibility is poor, the tip weighs less. In practice, these two considerations are weighed together under the overall totality of the circumstances, but they are the two factors the question asks you to identify.