Final answer:
It is false that promises can be made to defendant informants without proper procedure. Law enforcement must follow legal and ethical standards, and any agreement with informants typically requires a formal process involving a prosecutor and adherence to Miranda rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is generally false that law enforcement officials or prosecutors can make promises to defendant informants without stipulations or proper procedure. Those involved in law enforcement must adhere to specific legal and ethical guidelines before entering into any agreement with informants. Such agreements usually require the authorization of a prosecutor and are often detailed in a written plea or cooperation agreement. Furthermore, the rights of the accused, such as the Miranda rights and protection against self-incrimination as outlined by the Fifth Amendment, must be upheld during any custodial interrogation.
In scenarios where police officers mislead suspects about the consequences of confessing or remaining silent, it could be a violation of the suspects' rights. It is crucial for any statements made during custodial interrogation to be preceded by Miranda warnings, including the right to remain silent and the right to counsel. Failure to adhere to these requirements could render any obtained confession inadmissible in court.
In the scenario involving co-conspiratorial criminals being wrongly informed about each other's confessions, the police strategy resembles what is known as the prisoner's dilemma. The prisoners' decision to remain silent or confess would significantly impact their legal outcomes. However, this scenario also raises serious ethical questions and concerns about the admissibility and voluntariness of any confessions obtained in this manner.