Priscilla

11/17/2014
English Honors
4th Period
Criminal Investigation Process
Research Question:
What are key components that take place in the criminal investigation process?

Review of Literature:
According to the FBI (9/16/13), 3,246,100 violent and property crimes were
committed as of 2012. Criminal investigation is the reason why so many criminals are
caught. In order to catch these law breakers, criminal investigators must go through the
difficult, but well worthy, criminal investigation process. The key components of criminal
investigation are crucial so that the hardest to catch criminals are caught.
According to Don Penven in Basic Stages for a Crime Scene Investigation,
(2012) the main idea about this subject is to catch criminals. To make sure this action is
a success, investigators must follow the steps of the criminal investigation process. The
first step of the process is to approach and secure the scene. When you are doing this,
you must turn on your powers of observation and take note of what you see (Penven
par.1). Next, you would survey the scene and evaluate any physical evidence. This
means looking for any visual piece of evidence in the scene and then generate
questions about the evidence. When you are done with the previous step, you will need
to physically take notes and pictures of the scene. The notes and pictures you take of
the scene are very important because you can look back on the notes/pictures in trial to

use them as evidence. After you have successfully taken notes and pictures, you will
need to sketch and search the scene. When sketching the scene, you need to make
sure you are exact with measurements, details, etc. When you are searching the scene,
you need to look at at every single piece of the scene to try and locate the smallest
piece of evidence. The last step to the scene investigation process is to record and
collect your evidence, then make any final conclusions to release the crime scene. As
you are collecting evidence, you must label and identify all evidence that you have
found. When you have made your final conclusions about the investigation, you will
make sure you have left nothing behind, this way you have an accurate crime scene to
be released (Penven par.15). In conclusion, Basic Stages for a Crime Scene
Investigation, says that the main idea of criminal investigation process is thorough and
very detailed in an effort to catch the criminal.
A second writer, Stephanie Watson in How Forensic Lab Techniques Work
(1998-2014), states that, forensic lab techniques are used by forensic scientists to
analyze and interpret evidence found at the crime scene (Watson par. 2). Gunshot
residue can be traced back to the hands of the person who fired the weapon. When
doing this, police use a swab to lift residue off of a suspected shooter (Watson par.
16), and then match it back to the gun. Fibers can be found on the victim and can be
matched to the suspect by using infrared spectrometry. Visible and latent (made when
sweat or other substance on your skin reproduce fingerprint on other objects)
fingerprints can be found by using a forensic lab method called cyanoacrylate. Body
fluids (blood, saliva, etc.) are tested in lab by using different tests such as the KastleMeyer test. This test uses a substance called, phenolphthalein which turns color when

blood is detected (Watson par. 21). DNA analysis is used by forensic scientists to
identify people by fingerprints, blood cells, tissue cells, or any other things that can be
traced back to your body by using a technique called polymerase chain reaction. The
third author concludes that forensic lab techniques are very resourceful when a forensic
scientist is trying to catch a criminal.
Another idea by Ian Mckenzie in The History of Criminal Investigation (1996) is
to follow certain guidelines to identify criminals by their appearances. The following
ideas were found by an Italian criminologist, Cesare Lombroso, who studied six
thousand criminals (McKenzie 10). A highwayman usually has thick hair and a weird
shaped head. Arsonists may have long hands and feet, small heads, and do not weigh
much. A pickpocket typically has long hands, tall stature, and has black hair. Swindlers
can have large jaws, are light skinned, and are overweight. In conclusion, The History of
Criminal Investigation says that most criminals can simply be identified by their looks.
A fourth source, Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation (2006), states that
people are the engine that drives the information machine (Alifano par. 14). During an
investigation, a criminal investigator can be often tested on their ability to withhold
information from possible suspects. The investigator of the crime must be able to
communicate with all people associated with the crime. This means talking to people
such as the suspects, witnesses, victims, etc. The investigator must also have an open
mind. When talking to people involved with the crime, they should be listening to them
and not just sticking with their assumption the whole time. Investigators need to follow
the facts that were given to them by any person involved with the crime. The facts
always lead somewhere- maybe even to solving the investigation. Criminal investigators

are also encouraged to be familiar with all sides of the story (Alifano par.14). This allows
the investigators to view the case in new ways. This author concludes that criminal
investigators play a big role when leading victims to justice.
Yet another idea from What Does a Criminal Investigator Do? (2003-2014), is
that criminal investigators can take in a suspect and look at all of their information to
make sure they have the right suspect in mind. Depending on the case, the investigator
may be allowed to record the suspects travel. They can also record any conversation
they hear with the suspect talking. The investigator can not only monitor the suspects
phone calls, but also text messages being sent in and out. As the investigator gets
closer to the end of the process, they do background checks on the suspect. Once they
feel they have a lead, they can take in the suspect to be detained for the crime being
investigated (Wise Geek par. 3). This source concludes that there are many diverse and
intense ways to determine if the suspect is guilty of the committed crime.

Analysis:
There are four main ideas about the criminal investigation process found in the
sources used, and they all relate to the criminal being investigated and taken into
custody. They differ because they are each about a different step being taken in the
criminal investigation process. One out of the four ideas found is the crime scene
investigation. This idea is all about what goes on at the scene of the crime: approaching
the scene, securing the scene, surveying the scene, etc. The second main idea is
forensic lab techniques. In the forensic lab, different techniques are used to find gunshot
residue, fibers from a suspect, body fluids, and DNA analysis. Another idea states that
criminals can be identified by their appearances. For example, arsonists usually have

long hands, are tall, and have black hair. The last idea found in the sources was making
conclusions about suspects. This means the investigator follows certain guidelines in an
attempt to find the correct suspect and put them in custody. These ideas have a lot in
common, since they all lead to finding the correct criminal.

Conclusion:
The most likely explanation seems to be that criminal investigation is a very
worthwhile process. Investigating the crime scene can be one of the most difficult parts
of the investigation process. This is because you have to start off with investigating the
crime scene (Penven par. 1). If you dont investigate the crime scene well, the rest of
the whole criminal investigation process can be difficult because you started with a bad
lead (Alifano par.13). Although the criminal investigation process can be difficult, the
outcome is great since the criminal investigators are able to help keep criminals in jail
where they, most likely, are supposed to be.

References:
Alifano, Charles M. Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation. 2006. Worldwide Law
Enforcement Consulting Group Inc. 11/6/14.
<www.worldwidelawenforcement.com>.
FBI Releases 2012 Crime Statistics. 9/16/13. The FBI: Federal Bureau of
Investigation. 11/20/14.
<www.fbi.gov/new/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2012-crime-statistics>.
McKenzie, Ian. The History of Criminal Investigation. Austin, TX: Steck-Vaughn
Company, 1996.

Penven, Don. Basic Stage for a Crime Scene Investigation. 11/1/12. Crime Scene
Investigation Network. 11/15/14. <www.crime-scene-investigatior.net>.
Watson, Stephanie. How Forensic Lab Techniques Work. How Stuff Works. 11/5/14.
<www.science.howstuffworks.com/forensic-lab-technique>.
What Does a Criminal Investigator Do? Wise Geek. 11/20/14.
<www.wisegeek.org/what-do-criminal-investigator-do.htm>.