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Special Investigations. Chapter 16. Overview. Domestic Abuse Organized Crime Hate Crimes Arson Review Questions Opportunity for Student Questions. Learning Objectives. Define the major types of domestic abuse
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Special Investigations Chapter 16
Overview • Domestic Abuse • Organized Crime • Hate Crimes • Arson • Review Questions • Opportunity for Student Questions
Learning Objectives • Define the major types of domestic abuse • Explain the four types of child abuse that may be brought to the attention of the criminal investigator • List the characteristics that are common to the child abuse offender • Describe the or origin, method of operation, and current status of La Cosa Nostra • Discuss how organized crime converts illegal funds into legitimate operations • Discuss the investigative methodology that can be used to combat organized crime • Define hate crime • Describe the seriousness of the current status of arson • Define the five classifications of a fire • Describe the four common motivations behind the incendiary fire • Discuss the investigative methodology used in arson cases
Domestic Abuse • Domestic abuse means a form of conflict between: • Married persons • Children and parents • Family violence accounts for 8% of all reported violent crime in the U.S. • The average arrested suspect is a white male 25 to 29 years of age • Females arrested for family violence constitute 16% of all family violence arrests and their rate of apprehension has increased dramatically (130% over 9 years)
Domestic Abuse–The Police Response • Domestic calls have statistically ranked high as a situation resulting in police injury and death • Domestic abuse that may have gone unreported for years eventually will be forwarded to the police • The patrol division responds • An attempt to resolve the conflict is initiated by the patrol officers • Immediate restoration of the peace • Addressing underlying causes (requires specialized training) to improve long-term solutions
Who is Abused? • Spouse abuse refers to a battery committed by one married partner on the other • The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates: • 1.5 million U.S. women are battered by their husbands • 835,000 U.S. men are battered by the wives • 2,000 to 4,000 women annually are beaten to death by their husbands, former husbands, or live-in boyfriends • 15% of all U.S homicides are domestic related
Battered Women • Battered women appear to have certain common traits • Submissive • Trusting • More reserved than the general adult female population • Tend to assume the guilt for the battery • General loss of self-esteem
The Five Stages of Abuse • Emotional abuse–the primary motivation is to control the life of the victim • Repeatedly undermining the victims’ self-confidence with degrading remarks • Isolate the victim • Controlling where they go, what they do, or whom they associate with • Threats–directed against the spouse or children • Destroying belongings • The physical stage • Initially engages in shaking or pushing • Escalating to episodes of extreme physical assault
Risk Factors of Domestic Homicide • A history of prior incidents of domestic violence • A gun is owned by the perpetrator • Estrangement where the woman left the relationship • Forced sex • The in-home presence of a child belonging to the woman from a previous relationship
Stalking • Stalking is defined as an intentional course of conduct directed at a specific person which: • Alarms • Annoys • Intimidates • Or harasses the targeted individual • Stalking may take various forms • Phone calls • Letters • Emails • Violent personal confrontations • Uninvited presence at one’s home, work, or anywhere unexpectedly
Stalking Statistics • 8% of women and 2% of men have been stalked at some time in their life • 78% of stalking victims are women • 87% of the stalking perpetrators are male • Most stalking cases involve victims and perpetrators who know each other • 23% of all female victims and 35% of all male victims are stalked by strangers
Stalking Offender Groups • Simple obsessive • 48% of all stalkers are of this group • Most are males who were in a prior relationship with the victim • Suspects are socially immature • Most likely to make threats (97%) and harm victims (30%) • Love obsessional • 43% belong to this group • 97% are male • No prior relationships with victims • Suspects are generally between 30 and 40 years of age • 25% make threats and 3% harm victims
Stalking Offender Groups(continued) • Erotomanic • 10% belong to this group • Suspects develop a strong delusional belief that they are loved by the victim • Offenders are generally female • Least dangerous stalker
Investigating Stalking • A threat assessment must be made to evaluate the suspect’s potential for violence • Overall behavior is examined with particular attention placed upon the nature of any threats • Access to weapons (if known) • History of violations of protection orders • Substance abuse or mental illness • Prior physical violence
Investigating Stalking (continued) • Conduct a detailed victim interview • Locate and interview any witnesses • Obtain any letters or emails from the victim • If suspect is unknown, get information such as: • Description of the suspect (physical description, voice, accent, background noise heard on the phone, etc.) • Have the victim start phone logs and get the phone company to start tracking phone records • Ask Internet Service Provider (ISP) for assistance to trace email source • Encourage the victim to obtain a protection order • Domestic Abuse Protection Order • Harassment Protection Order
Child Abuse • Any act or omission that endangers or impairs a child’s physical or emotional health and development • The types of child abuse include: • Physical assault • Emotional abuse • Neglect • Sexual exploitation
Child Abuse Investigations • In most states, child abuse investigations are handled jointly by law enforcement officials and local child protective services workers • Careful interviews must be conducted so as not to “lead” the child towards answers • Limit the interview time to the child’s ability to concentrate (most should be less than 40 minutes) • Take the child to a medical facility • Obtain treatment for injuries • Get a doctor’s opinion regarding source of injury (compare to caregiver’s version) • Obtain photographic documentation of all injuries • Determine if removal from the home is warranted ̶ ask this question, “Is the child in immediate danger?”
Physical Abuse Indicators • Injuries on several surface areas of the body • Evidence of previous injuries • Wrap-around injuries • Bruises of odd size or that show the imprint of the striking object • Injuries under the clothing • Burn injuries (dip burns, cigarette burns on the arms) • Extreme fear of adults • Parents who cannot explain a child’s injury, or who offer explanations that are unlikely • Parents who continually blame injuries on siblings or friends, or who claim the child is “accident prone”
Neglect Indicators • Neglect can be difficult to prove • Photography is a useful tool for law enforcement; a picture is worth a thousand words… • Pictures of the refrigerator with no formula (baby) or food • Deplorable living conditions (including evidence of drug use) • Bedrooms with no bedding • Picture of the child showing emaciation, improper clothing, or other signs of neglect • Obtain statements from the complainant • The neighbor who reported the children looking for food in the garbage or begging for food at the door • The parents who report that a child has been left with them for days with no phone call
Organized Crime • Pertains to any group of suspects who have formed a highly organized, disciplined association engaged in criminal activities • Requires a continuous commitment by its members • Distinguished by elaborate planning
Organized Crime Members are Professional • There is a lack of impulsiveness in committing crimes by this group–good discipline • The fundamental goal is economic gain • Violence and intimidation, inspired by corruption and greed, are common working tools
Hate Crimes • Also known as bias crimes • A hate crime is a criminal offense committed against a person that is motivated, in whole or in part, by a bias against: • Race • Religion • Disability • Sexual orientation • Ethnicity/national origin
What is a Hate Crime? • It is NOT a separate, distinct crime • Hate crimes are traditional offenses motivated by the perpetrator’s bias • Hate crimes include: • Homicide • Rape • Assault • Robbery • Vandalism • Hate crimes are found in both state laws and federal statutes
Six Hate Group Classifications • Klan • Neo-Nazi • Skinhead • Christian Identity • Black Separatist • Neo-Confederate
Investigating Hate Crimes • The crime must first be screened to be classified as a hate crime using the following criteria: • Was the victim a member of a targeted class? • Does it appear that victim and suspect belong to different groups? • Would the criminal act have taken place if the victim and suspect were of the same group? • Is there evidence the suspect used biased oral comments, gestures, or written statements? • Did the suspect leave bias-related objects or symbols at the crime scene?
The Five Types of Hate Crimes • Thrill seeking • Organized • Missionary • Reactive • Identity conflicted
Arson is defined as the intentional burning of property for some improper and illegal motive The estimated annual loss from arson is $2 billion It is also estimated that there are: 1000 deaths 10,000 injuries Arson
Causes of Fire: Five Broad Categories • Natural • Accidental • Suspicious • Incendiary • Unknown
The Fire Triangle Fuel Heat Oxygen
Motives for Arson • Financial profit • Revenge • Vandalism • Crime concealment
Arson Investigation • While the fire is occurring • Note the color of smoke and fire • Video or photograph • All bystanders • Progress of the fire • Processing the crime scene • Locate the point of ignition (also known as the point of origin) • Locate evidence of • Fire accelerants (trailers, containers, unburned tinder not belonging at the scene) by visual means or by using sniffers • Igniters • Open windows and doors that should have been closed (to facilitate oxygen flow)
Arson Investigation (continued) • Conduct victim and witness interviews • Research the following: • Identify the true property owner • Insurance data on the building • Business history of the structure • Background information on all parties involved in the insurance coverage • Identify other motives and those with a motive
The Arson Suspect • Apprehend the suspect • Secure the suspect’s clothing for analysis • Presence of residues similar to those recovered at the scene • The contents of the suspect’s pockets may reveal the ignition means • Examine the suspect’s skin • Conduct a professional interview/interrogation
Review Questions • Define domestic abuse. • Describe the victims of domestic abuse. • What are the common indicators of child physical abuse? • Why would the police and child protective social workers work together to investigate reports of child abuse? • Identify the major four types of child abuse. • What is meant by the term organized crime? • What is a hate crime? • What are the indicators that a hate crime has been committed? • What are some of the investigative steps that should take place at a fire that may be arson? • What is an accelerant commonly found at arson scenes?
