Chabot College
Fall 2004
Replaced Fall 2010
Course Outline for Administration of Justice 63
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Catalog Description:
63 – Criminal Investigation
3 units
Fundamentals of investigation; crime scene search and recording; collection and
preservation of physical evidence; scientific aids; modus operandi; sources of
information; interviews and interrogation; follow-up and case preparation of specific
crimes. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
take effective notes;
analyze and compile data for use in formal reporting of investigations;
list the major investigative techniques involved in investigating a crime;
demonstrate basic investigative proficiencies by synthesizing a situation and
reducing the crime to reportable elements;
list the basic steps in interviewing, including non-verbal observation and
communication;
write an interview report;
describe and list other evidentiary items in a proper format;
perform a crime scene search.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Introduction
a. Aspects of investigation
b. Psychology involved
c. Report evaluation
Crime occurrence
a. Scenes
1) search, collection and preservation of evidence
b. Physical description
1) photography
2) scene sketching
3) Witnesses
4) Suspects
Interviewing and interrogation
Surveillance
Raids
Specific offenses
Chabot College
Course Outline for Administration of Justice 63, Page 2
Fall 2004
Methods of Presentation:
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Lecture and discussion
Audio-visual aids
Role playing
Classroom and field demonstrating
Information sheets
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
1.
Typical Assignments
a. Complete a crime scene report from a videotaped example
b. Role play a witness interview
c. Prepare a case for prosecution, including the crime scene investigation,
interview and interrogation reports, and scientific analyses of relevant
evidence
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Attendance and participation
b. Quizzes, midterm and final
c. Evaluation of role-playing exercises
d. Written reports on crime scene investigation and case preparation
Textbook(s) Typical:
Criminal Investigation, Swanson, Chamelin, Territo and Leonard, McGraw-Hill
Publishing Company, 2002, or latest edition.
Special Student Materials:
None.
sb:/word/AJ63
Revised: 11-6-03