Which type of informant is considered presumptively reliable?

A victim or witness informant is considered presumptively reliable because they have firsthand knowledge of the events they report, often stemming from personal experience. Their involvement in a situation typically means they have a vested interest in providing accurate and truthful information. Law enforcement tends to view accounts from such informants with a higher degree of credibility, especially when they have little to gain and possibly much to lose by coming forward.

In contrast, anonymous tip senders lack accountability and may not provide information that is reliably verifiable, making their tips less trustworthy. Individuals without a criminal record may still be unreliable due to various factors, such as lack of direct knowledge or ulterior motives. Suspects with credible alibis might offer insights into their own innocence rather than reliable information about others, so their reliability can be questioned as well.