Criminal Investigation: An Overview

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Chapter 1

• Criminal Investigation An Overview

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Criminal Investigation Defined

• An investigation is a patient, step-by step
  inquiry or observation, a careful examination, a
  recording of evidence or a legal inquiry.
• Investigate is derived from the Latin word
  investigare, meaning to track or trace.

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Crimes Defined I

• A crime is an act in violation of penal law and
  an offense against the state.
• A felony is a serious crime, graver than a
  misdemeanor, generally punishable by death or
  imprisonment of more than one year in a
  penitentiary.

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Crimes Defined II

• A misdemeanor is a crime or offense that is less
  serious than a felony and punishable by fine or
  imprisonment of up to one year in an institution
  other than a penitentiary.
• A criminal statute is a legislative act relating
  to a crime and its punishment.
• An ordinance is an act of the legislative body of
  a municipality or county relating to all the
  rules governing it, including misdemeanors.

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Goals of Criminal Investigation

• Determine whether a crime has been committed.
• Legally obtain information and evidence to
  identify the responsible person.
• Arrest the suspect.
• Recover stolen property.
• Present the best possible case to the prosecutor.

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Examples of Trace Evidence

• Fingerprints
• Small particles of glass
• Dirt
• Footprints
• Body hairs
• Clothing fiber

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Successful Investigation

• Follow a logical sequence
• Legally obtain all physical evidence
• Effectively interview all witnesses
• Legally and effectively interrogate all suspects
• Thoroughly develop all leads
• Record and report all details of the case

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Always Remember

• Determining the truth is more important than
  obtaining a conviction or closing a case.

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Functions Investigators Perform

• Obtain information from witnesses and suspects
• Identify suspects
• Conduct raids, surveillances, stakeouts, and
  undercover assignments
• Testify in court

• Provide emergency assistance
• Secure the crime scene
• Photograph, videotape, and sketch
• Take notes and write reports
• Search for, obtain, and process physical evidence

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Facts, Inferences, and Opinions

• Fact an action, an event, a circumstance, or an
  actual thing done.
• Inference a process of reasoning by which a fact
  may be deduced.
• Opinion a personal belief.

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Preliminary InvestigationBasic Considerations I

• Initial response
• Point of arrival
• Setting priorities
• Handle emergencies first
• Secure the scene
• Investigate

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Preliminary InvestigationBasic Considerations II

• Handling emergency situations
• Suspect near or at the scene
• Suspect recently fled
• Person seriously injured
• Dead body
• Protecting the crime scene

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Responsibilities of Preliminary Investigation

• Measuring, photographing, videotaping, and
  sketching a scene
• Searching for evidence
• Identifying, collecting, examining, and
  processing physical evidence
• Questioning victims, witnesses, and suspects
• Recording all statements and observations in
  notes

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Crime Analysis

• Crime analysis is the systematic gathering,
  evaluation, and analysis of information on
  individuals and/or activities suspected of being,
  or known to be, criminal in nature.

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Facts in Support of Crime Mapping

• Two-thirds of all crime occurs indoors, not
  visible to the police.
• Most serious crimes are perpetrated within a
  short time frame.
• Patrol officers intercept less than 1 percent of
  street crimes.
• The same 10 percent of locations within a
  jurisdiction generate approximately 65 percent of
  that jurisdictions total calls for service.

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Forensic Science/Criminalistics

• The application of physical and biological
  sciences and technology to the scientific
  examination of physical evidence.

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Basic Needs of Victims

1. Victims need to feel safe
2. Victims need to express their emotions
3. Victims need to know what comes next after
   their victimization

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Avoiding Civil Liability Against Police Officers

• Effective policies and procedures clearly
  communicated to all.
• Thorough and continuous training.
• Proper supervision and discipline.
• Accurate, thorough police reports.

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