Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base
Military Defense Investigation Authority Publication
Authority Publication No. DI-123
Cooperating Witnesses and Informants: Documenting Benefits, Pressure, and Incentives
Independent Military Defense Investigations
Supporting Attorneys, Service Members, and Families
Publication Date: August 24, 2026
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Executive Summary
DI-123 explains how defense investigators document benefits, pressure, incentives, prior inconsistent statements, and corroboration involving cooperating witnesses and informants so counsel can evaluate credibility from the complete source record.
Cooperating witnesses and informants in military investigations should be evaluated through a documented history of benefits, pressure, incentives, prior statements, and independent corroboration.
Cooperating witnesses and informants can provide significant information in a military investigation, but their accounts should be evaluated in the context of the complete relationship surrounding their cooperation.
DI-123 explains how defense investigators can document agreements, promises, payments, charging decisions, disposition records, handler communications, debriefs, recordings, source-validation records, and other evidence of benefits, pressure, or expectations.
The publication emphasizes chronology and source attribution. Investigators should compare what the source said at different stages, preserve prior inconsistent statements, identify independent corroboration, and trace every material assertion repeated in a report or motion back to its original source.
The purpose is not to presume that a cooperating witness is unreliable. It is to create a complete factual record so defense counsel can evaluate credibility, disclosure, and strategy with the benefit of documented evidence rather than incomplete summaries.
Who Should Read This Publication?
Military Defense Attorneys
Who want to understand how experienced investigators organize verified evidence into a clear, logical investigative narrative that strengthens case preparation, identifies investigative gaps, and supports a persuasive defense strategy.
Service Members Under Investigation
Who want to understand how individual facts, witness statements, documents, and digital evidence are evaluated and organized to accurately tell the story of what actually happened.
Family Members Supporting the Defense
Who are assisting with gathering records, photographs, messages, timelines, or witness information and want to understand how those individual pieces fit together to support an effective military defense investigation.
Professional Investigators
Who want to improve their ability to organize verified facts into a coherent investigative narrative that is objective, well-documented, and supported by corroborated evidence rather than assumptions or speculation.
Companion Video
This companion video expands on the investigative concepts presented in this Authority Publication through additional explanation, practical examples, and professional investigative insight.
About Michael West
The investigative guidance presented throughout these Authority Publications is based upon decades of professional experience conducting military, federal, criminal, civil, and private investigations. The principles discussed in these publications are drawn from real investigative work involving complex cases, witness development, evidence analysis, and factual case preparation.
Michael West has served as a Special Agent with the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and the Department of Defense Inspector General, conducted federal background investigations, and spent decades working as a licensed private investigator supporting attorneys, businesses, service members, and private clients. Throughout his career, his work has focused on identifying facts, locating witnesses, analyzing evidence, and strengthening the factual foundation of legal cases through independent investigation.
The Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base was created to share that investigative experience in a practical, understandable format. Its purpose is to help attorneys, service members, and families better understand the investigative process, ask more informed questions, and recognize opportunities where independent investigation may strengthen the defense.
Important Information
This Authority Publication is provided for educational and informational purposes and is intended to help readers better understand military defense investigations and the investigative process. It is based upon professional investigative experience and is designed to provide practical investigative insight rather than legal advice.
Every military case is unique. The investigative strategies, factual issues, and legal considerations applicable to one case may not apply to another. Readers should consult with a qualified attorney regarding legal rights, legal strategy, and decisions involving their individual circumstances.
Nothing contained in this publication should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship or an investigator-client relationship. References to investigative techniques, procedures, or case examples are provided solely to illustrate investigative principles and should not be considered legal guidance.
Effective military defense is strengthened by informed legal representation supported by thorough factual investigation. The purpose of these Authority Publications is to help readers better understand that investigative process so they can communicate more effectively with qualified legal counsel and make informed decisions throughout the military justice process.