Criminal Criminal Investigation Investigation

Unit 1 Unit 1

Criminal Criminal Investigation Investigation

Unit 1 Unit 1 Criminal Investigation Criminal Investigation

The Function of the PoliceThe Function of the Police

What are the intended goals of this course?• The intended goals of this course are:

1. To discern information and turn it into life-long knowledge, and2. To develop critical thinking skills

in order to help you:- Make good decisions that will enable you to be successful in life

Quotable Quote“It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys of London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling beautiful countryside.”- Sherlock Holmes

What is a criminal investigation?

• A criminal investigation is a lawful search for people and things useful in:1. Reconstructing the circumstances

of an illegal act or omission, and2. The mental state accompanying

it

Criminal Investigation continued:• It is the probing of the known and

the unknown, backward in time• Its goal is to determine the truth

as far as it can be discovered in any post-factum (after-the-fact) inquiry

Criminal Investigation continued:• Successful investigations are based

on:1. Fidelity, accuracy, and sincerity in lawfully searching for the facts, and2. Exactness, faithfulness, and integrity in reporting the results

What factors make up of a criminal

investigation?• There are three (3) factors involved

in a successful investigation:1. Intuition – An act of perception or understanding without reasoning2. Routine plodding legwork, and3. Microscopic examination and laboratory analysis

Quotable Quote

“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”.- Sherlock Holmes

The fishermen of Finland like to fish off the coast of Newfoundland.

PARIS IN THE THE SPRING

What is the function of police in an investigation?• Police are responsible for:

1. Preliminary investigations, and2. Follow-up investigations

What is the purpose of a preliminary investigation?• The purpose of a preliminary

investigation is to:1. Arrest the guilty person at the

scene, or in flight from the place of the crime2. Process the crime scene, and 3. Record all factual data

Who conducts the preliminary investigation?• Generally, preliminary investigations

are part of the duties and responsibilities of the first police officer(s) to arrive at the scene.

• Generally, the first officer(s) on the scene are uniformed officers assigned to the patrol division

What are the duties of the preliminary investigator? • Assess the crime scene:

1. Establish whether a crime has been committed

- Determine the type of crime by category, and the specific classification2. Arrest the perpetrator of the crime where possible

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:• Locate and interview the victim(s)

and/or any witness(es)1. Obtain and accurately record their identity, addresses, telephone numbers, and other necessary data for future contact2. Record what they saw or heard

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:• Develop information on suspects

1. Obtain any available information on the suspect(s) and/or vehicle(s) used, and the direction of flight

2. Broadcast descriptions to other police as an alarm and/or a want

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:• Determine the extent of the crime

scene• Protect the crime scene

1. Do not allow anyone access to the crime scene unless they have the authorization to enter

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:• Search the crime scene for any

items that are of evidential value, or likely to be of evidential value

• Mark evidence for identification• Protect evidence from change, loss,

damage, or contamination through custody and control of it

• Take measurements

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:• Determine how the crime was

committed• Determine the extent of any

personal injuries to the victim(s)• Determine the nature and value of

all property taken, damaged, and/or destroyed

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:• Record in field notes and sketches all

available data about the crime to include:1. The stories of victims and witnesses2. The crime scene search, evidence

found, and the disposition of the evidence

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:

3. Measurements taken at the scene, and other pertinent information

4. Photographs taken of the crime scene and location of all evidence

5. Make or prepare all required reports

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:• To recap:

1. The focus of the preliminary investigator is: “The scene of the crime”2. The first step is an accurate survey of the surroundings and a careful evaluation of the situation

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:

3. The impact of the overall picture will provide guidelines for a plan of action4. The work of the preliminary

investigator concentrates on four of the basic elements of the investigation:

Duties of preliminary investigators continued:

- Search the crime scene- Collect and preserve all

items - Locate and interview victims

and witnesses - Establish a time-line of

events