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KEY PLAYERS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

PSINSP CONRADO R DE VERA JR, DPM

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Lesson Goal:

The participants will gain an

understanding of the tasks,
procedures, and priorities that needs
to be considered by knowing the
roles of Key Players in Criminal
Investigation: First Responder,
Investigator-on-Case, SOCO and
Case Manager.
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Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the duties, tasks and functions of
the key players and the relevance of their
work in criminal investigation.

2. Discuss the importance of maintaining and

observing the protocols for chain of custody
in a criminal investigation.
Outline of Presentation: 4
I. Introduction
II. Definition of Terms
III. Specific Functions, Responsibilities and
Procedures of the First Responder,
Investigator-On-Case (IOC), SOCO and Case
Manager
IV.Release of the Crime Scene
V. Importance of Chain of Custody
VI.Video Presentation
 Reaction/Discussion
VII. Class Activity
VIII. Critique and Evaluation
Definition of Terms 5
A.Alleged – connotes something claimed

B.Case Manager – over-all supervisor of the case

C.Contamination – unclear or impure state

D.Cordon – a line of police officers

E.Crime Scene – a venue or place of incident

F.Dying Declaration – last word of a dying person

G.First Responder – first to respond to calls for

assistance
Definition of Terms 6

H. Investigator-on-Case – person in charge on

investigation of a case

I. Suspect(s) – pointed to have committed the crime

J. SOCO – specialist of the Crime Laboratory Group

K. Venue – place where the suit may be filed/had

L. Evidence – the means sanctioned by the Rules of

Court
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How IMPORTANT
teamwork is to you?
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The Criminal Investigation Team

a. First Responder
b. Investigator-on-Case
c. SOCO
d. Case Manager
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The Criminal Investigation Team
Investigator
on Case

First
Responder

Crime
 Solid lines
Scene Case
refer to
owners of the Manager
processes

 Broken lines SOCO

refer to
supporting
owners of the Crime Universe
processes
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How important are the roles of

each team members into the
process of criminal
investigation?
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First Responder
1. The first
First
Responder
Police Officers to
arrive at the
Crime crime scene are
Scene
the FRs who
were dispatched
SOCO
by the local
police station/
Crime Universe unit concerned
after receipt of
incident/flash/
alarm report;
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First Responder
2. The FR shall conduct a preliminary evaluation of
the crime scene.

3. The FR is mandated to save and preserve life.

4. The FR shall take the dying declaration of

severely injured person/s, if any;

5. The FR shall make the initial assessment on

whether a crime has actually been committed;
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First Responder
6. If a suspect present in the area, the FR shall arrest,
detain and remove the suspect from the area;
 
7. The FR, upon the arrival of the IOC, shall turnover
the crime scene to the duty investigator/IOC after
the former has briefed the investigator of the
situation; and

8. The FR shall stay in the crime scene to assist the

IOC in the maintenance of security, crowd control,
preservation of evidence and custody of
witness/suspect.
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Investigator-on-Case
Investigator
on Case

1. Upon arrival at
the crime scene, Crime
the IOC shall Scene
request for a
briefing from the
FR and make a
quick assessment
Crime Universe
of the crime;
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Investigator-on-Case
2. The IOC shall assume full responsibility over the
crime scene;

3. The IOC determines if a SOCO team is required;

4. The IOC may by himself conduct CSI if, there is no

Provincial Crime Laboratory Office/Regional
Crime Laboratory Office in the province.
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Investigator-on-Case
5. The Police Station Operation Center, shall make
the request for the SOCO team;

6. It shall be the responsibility of the Provincial/City

Operations Center to facilitate the request for the
SOCO Team;

7. Upon the arrival of the SOCO Team, the IOC shall

accomplish CSI Form “2” and submit the same to
the SOCO Team Leader.

8. The IOC shall brief the SOCO Team upon their

arrival at the crime scene.
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Scenes of the Crime Operation
1. The SOCO
Team shall not join
any operations
conducted by the
local police or
Crime
accompany the
Scene FRs or the IOC in
going to the crime
scene.
SOCO

Crime Universe
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Scenes of the Crime Operation
2. Upon receipt of the Request for Conduct of SOCO, the
SOCO Team shall conduct the scene of the crime
operations;

3. In case the SOCO Team needs to temporarily suspend the

processing, the Chief of Police shall be primarily
responsible and accountable for securing the crime scene;

4. The SOCO Team Leader shall brief the IOC on the initial
results and conduct the final crime scene survey together
with the IOC; and

5. The SOCO Team shall accomplish the CSI Form “4” - and
furnish the IOC of copies of the same before leaving the
crime scene.
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The Case Manager

Crime
Scene Case
Manager

Crime Universe
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The Case Manager
1. Manage and coordinate with all the members
of the investigating team on the case;
2. Evaluate the evidences gathered and
coordinate with the IOC and other actors in
the investigation of the crime scene;
3. Establish and prepare the case management
system; and
4. Plan and manage follow up activities for
criminal cases.
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IV. Release of the Crime Scene

The IOC shall decide on the lifting of the

security cordon and the release of the crime
scene upon consultation with the SOCO Team
Leader;

The IOC shall accomplish the CSI Form 6

(IOC/ Investigator’s CSI Form) before the
cordon shall be lifted;
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IV. Release of the Crime Scene

The IOC shall ensure that the appropriate

inventory has been provided by the SOCO
Team;

The IOC or the COP shall turn-over the

crime scene to the owner of the property
CSI Form “5” – (Release of the Crime Scene
Form);
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IV. Release of the Crime Scene
The IOC shall accomplish and submit the
Investigator’s Report with all the required
attachments to the COP; and
 
The CSI Report shall be the first entry in
the Case Folder for the investigation of the
incident.
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What is the importance of

maintaining and observing the
protocols for chain of custody?
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V. Importance of Chain of Custody

  A secure chain of custody, combined with the

use of proper analytical methods and techniques,
is necessary for a legally defensible reporting of
the sample.
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Purpose of Chain of Custody
 In litigation, investigating unit or agencies must be
able to prove the legal integrity of all samples and
data introduced as evidence.

 To establish an accurate written record to track the

possession, handling, and location of samples and
data from collection through reporting. 

 Efficiency in verifying the identity of the person

responsible for or who has possessed the
samples and data and where the samples have
been
General Guidelines in Handling Chain of Custody

1. Keep the number of people involved in collecting and handling

samples and data to a minimum.

2. Only allow people associated with the investigation to handle

samples and data.

3. Always document the transfer of samples and data from one

person to another on chain-of-custody forms

4. Always accompany samples and data with their chain-of-custody

forms.

5. Give samples and data positive identification at all times that is

legible and written with permanent ink.
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Summary
At the end of the lesson, we learned the
following:

The duties, tasks and functions of the key

players and the relevance of their work in
criminal investigation.

The importance of maintaining and observing

the protocols for chain of custody in a criminal
investigation.
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End of Presentation