In 2019, my world was shattered when my son, Michael "Mikey" Attwood, was brutally murdered on Knick Knack Mud Shack Rd. He wasn't alone. His father's girlfriend, Marie Anderson, and Alyssa Jimenez, who was several months pregnant with baby Jaylynn, were taken from us on that fateful day. My heart tells me that the individuals responsible for their deaths had managed to escape justice far too often because they were informants—passing on information to law enforcement and benefiting from leniencies in exchange.

This tragic personal experience has shed light on a glaring issue within our justice system. Confidential informants (CIs) often evade full responsibility for serious crimes due to the deals they make with authorities. The reliance on CIs without stringent accountability not only endangers public safety but also undermines trust in our criminal justice system.

According to studies, confidential informants can sometimes provide unreliable information, leading to mistrials and further injustice. Reports, such as those from reputable sources like the Justice Policy Institute, suggest that the overreliance on informants without proper oversight contributes to numerous injustices and occasionally puts other lives at risk.

We must demand reform. Law enforcement agencies should have clear, strict guidelines on how confidential informants are managed. Implementing external oversight committees could ensure transparency and prevent any misuse of this system. Moreover, there must be firm criteria to determine when an informant's key disclosures outweigh the need for their incarceration, without compromising justice and public safety.

I am urging lawmakers, local law enforcement bodies, and the justice department to re-evaluate current practices related to the use of confidential informants. Our loved ones’ lives should not be collateral damage in legal bargaining. Help me make a change that safeguards our communities.

Please sign this petition to call for an overhaul of the way confidential informants are managed in the criminal justice system. Together, we can ensure accountability, justice, and safety for everyone.