Criminal Investigation

TWO

eighth edition

Investigators, the Investigative Process, and the Crime Scene

WHAT IS A CRIME?
A crime is the commission or omission of any act, which is prohibited or required by the penal code of an organized political state, to which some punishment or sanction is attached. Classifications
Felony
Punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year in a state prison.

Misdemeanor
Punishable by fine and/or imprisonment for up to one year in a local or county jail.

Infraction or Violation
Minor offenses punishable by a fine only.

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THE INVESTIGATOR
Someone who gathers, documents and evaluates evidence.
Strong professional training and experience Strong degree of self-discipline Uses legally approved & ethical methods Strong people skills Includes all evidence of innocence as well as guilt Uses systematic methods of inquiry Uses both inductive and deductive reasoning Compassionate, not calloused and cynical Has wide ranging contacts across many occupations Remains objective at all times Leaves nothing to chance during investigation
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THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS

Objectives
Establish if a crime was committed Collect, document and preserve evidence Identify and apprehend the suspect(s) Recover stolen property Assist in the prosecution of the person(s) charged with the crime(s)

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THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

The actions taken at the scene of a crime immediately following its detection and report to the police
Receipt of information and initial response Emergency care Crime scene control BOLO alerts Crime scene determination Evidence The report

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FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION
Subsequent investigation
Contacting witnesses who left the scene Checking out suspect(s) alibi Gathering additional evidence from other locations Talk with informants Attempt to locate additional witnesses Evaluate evidence collected and laboratory results of tests Obtain search and/or arrest warrants Recover stolen property Confer with prosecutor

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CRIME SCENE
Location where the offense was committed
May include surrounding areas where evidence may be located Always start big . . . Its much easier to make it smaller than to expand it at a later time There may be more than one crime scene Macroscopic versus Microscopic scenes

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ORGANIZATION OF THE CRIME SCENE

Overall coordination
Handled by assigned case agent Power to call in additional resources & coordinate all investigative activities

Technical services
Crime laboratory personnel & supervisors

Investigative services
Interviewing witnesses and victims Neighborhood canvass Suspect field interrogations

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CATEGORIES OF EVIDENCE
Corpus Delicti evidence
Evidence that helps to prove the elements of the crime(s)

Associative evidence
Evidence that connects the suspect to the scene and/or victim or connects the scene/victim to the suspect
It is bidirectional

Trace evidence
Small or microscopic evidence, or evidence in limited amounts

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EVIDENCE RECOVERY LOG

A chronological record of who found what evidence, where, witnessed by whom, and notations about other ways the evidence may have been documented, e.g., photography

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EVIDENCE RECOVERY LOG

The evidence recovery log is an important document which records all pieces of physical evidence found at a crime scene. This is critical if the case is to be successfully prosecuted later.

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CRIME SCENE CONTROL

The actions which the first arriving officer at the crime scene takes to make sure that the integrity of the scene is maintained Control also includes preventing people at the scene from becoming combatants and separating witnesses

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CONCEPTUALIZATION
Keep known fact AND inferences in mind when processing scene
Facilitates reconstruction of the offense Identification of the modus operandi Identification of certain types of evidence Assists in establishing investigative direction

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CAUTION
Dont destroy evidence Make crime scene bigger than expected and shrink as necessary Dont overlook fruitful areas for exploration Do more than a cursory examination

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INCLUSIVENESS
Obtain every piece of evidence If not sure, take it as evidence until it is ruled out Do not dismiss items of possible evidence
Be careful of rationalization and fatigue

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DOCUMENTATION
Constant Activity
Starts with rough shorthand field notes Sketches Diagrams to scale

WAYS TO DOCUMENT A CRIME SCENE VISUALLY INCLUDE: Video taping Photographing Sketching

(Courtesy Lewiston, Maine, Police Department)

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THREATS TO INVESTIGATORS HEALTH AND SAFETY AT CRIME SCENES Insect bites HIV/AIDS Hepatitis B and C Tuberculosis

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MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS OF THE CRIME SCENE SEARCH

Boundary Determination Choice of Search Patterns Instruction of Personnel Coordination Documentation

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CRIME SCENE SEARCH PATTERNS

(a) Spiral

The crime scene coordinator may choose from a variety of crime scene search patterns based upon the type and size of the crime scene.

(b) Strip/Line

(c) Grid

(d) Zone/Quadrant

(e) Pie/Wheel

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