Criminal Investigations
Part 3
Characteristics of the Investigator
Personal and Learned Qualities
1.
Learned qualities
a. Training
- basic through advanced
b. Observation
- training and experience
2.
Personal qualities
a. Intellectual
- objective / logic / common sense
Qualities, cont.
2.
Psychological
a. Emotional stability
b. Detached
c. Inquisitive
d. Self-discipline
e. Perseverance
Qualities, cont.
3.
Personal characteristics
a. Good physical condition
b. Observation / memory skills
c. Develop “5 senses”
d. Honest
e. Unbiased
Qualities, cont.
f. Unprejudiced
f. Writing ability
g. Sensitivity
h. Dedication
i. Creativity
Qualities, cont.
1.
Knowledge of life and people
- street language
- ethnic beliefs and traditions
- setting up informants
2.
Knowledge of laws and processes
- laws of arrest
- laws of search and seizure
- keeping abreast of the law
Investigative Responsibility
1.
Final responsibility
- all personnel
2.
Cooperative / coordinated effort
- departmental effort
3.
Sharing of information
- administration
- patrol
- detectives
Trained to investigate
1.
Rising crimes rates
- personal crime
- property crime
2.
Competition for tax dollars
3.
Criminals are more elusive
- area to area / state to state
4.
Changing MO’s
Trained, cont.
5.
Withdrawal of general public
- greater friction between police and public
- afraid for personal safety
6.
Large number of cases assigned
7.
More intelligent / educated recruits
8.
Increased police training
Interrelationships with others
1.
Patrol officer
- knowledge of the street
2.
Dispatchers
- information received
3.
4.
Prosecutor’s staff
- know what is expected
Defense counsel
- know what to expect
Relationships, cont.
5.
Physicians / coroners / medical examiners
- who to contact
- what to ask
6.
Crime laboratory
- who to contact
- what to ask
7.
Victims / citizens
- how to treat / show respect
Preliminary Investigation
1.
Initiation of criminal investigation
- begins immediately / initial response
- each is unique
2.
Arrive quickly as possible
- suspect at or near scene
- injured persons / protect others
- locate witnesses
- attempt to alter scene
- weather conditions
Preliminary, cont.
1.
Finding out precisely what happened
2.
Locate witnesses / other sources of evidence
3.
Determining steps to take
4.
Attempt to understand:
- motivation of victim and/or witnesses
- in reporting crime
Preliminary, cont.
5.
Record:
- three major types of information collected
a. What has been done
b. What has been learned
c. What remains to be done
Follow-Up Investigation
1.
Additional information
2.
Clarifying information
3.
Recover stolen property
4.
Interrogation of suspect
5.
Preparing the case for court
Law Enforcement Officer’s
Approach
1.
Believe nothing told
- truth lies in physical evidence
- after “truth”
a. Physical evidence cannot lie
- can take any form
- large as a house / small as a fiber
- fleeting as an odor
b. Values of physical evidence
Approach, cont.
- prove crime committed
- suspect at scene
- ID of persons
- exonerate innocent
- corroborate victim
- suspect may confess
c. Physical evidence does not change
- expected by juries
- lack of: useful information
Approach, cont.
2.
Information and physical evidence
‘
a. Information
- primary to locating suspect
- secondary to convicting
b. Physical evidence
- primary to convicting suspect
- secondary to locating suspect
Approach, cont.
3.
Information primary to locating suspect
- observations
- contacts
a. Obtain suspect information
- description
- direction of travel
- vehicle or on foot
b. Broadcast all information
- other officers on way to scene
Approach, cont.
4.
Information primary to convicting
- fingerprints / hair / blood
- eyewitnesses