State v. Port Clinton Fisheries, Inc.

This court has long recognized the state’s interest in and corresponding privilege of withholding from disclosure the identity of persons who furnish information regarding criminal offenses to law enforcement officers. See State v. Williams (1983), 4 Ohio St. 3d 74; State v. Phillips (1971), 27 Ohio St. 2d 294 [56 O.O.2d 174]; State v. Roe (1971), 26 Ohio St. 2d 243 [55 O.O.2d 480]; State v. Beck (1963), 175 Ohio St. 73 [23 O.O.3d 377]. There are sound reasons of public policy for such holdings in criminal cases in order to further the public interest in effective criminal law enforcement.

Ther…