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Criminal Investigations. Criminal Investigations. Wayne W. Bennett and Karen M. Hess Wadsworth Publisher CSI. Crime Scene Investigators. Goals of a Criminal Investigator. Determine whether a crime has been committed
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Criminal Investigations Wayne W. Bennett and Karen M. Hess Wadsworth Publisher CSI
Goals of a Criminal Investigator • Determine whether a crime has been committed • Legally obtain information and evidence to identify the responsible person • Arrest the suspect • Recover stolen property • Present the best possible case to the prosecutor
Functions of an Investigator • Interview the first Officer on the crime scene. • Determine if the crime scene needs to be expanded • Photograph, videotape, and sketch • Take notes and write reports • Search for, obtain, and process physical evidence.
Functions continued • Obtain information from witnesses and suspects • Conduct raids, surveillances, stakeouts, and under cover assignments • Present evidence to prosecutors • Obtain any necessary warrants • Testify in Court
Preliminary Investigation Responsibilities • Question victims, witnesses, and suspects • Conduct a neighborhood canvass • Photograph and sketch the crime scene • Search for evidence • Identify, collect, examine, and process physical evidence • Record statements and observations in notes.
Preliminary Investigation Checklist • Was a log kept of activities? • Was the crime secured and evidence protected? • Were photographs taken? • Were measurements and sketches made? • Was all evidence processed? • Were statements taken from witnesses?
I. Preliminary Investigation • A. Initial Response • LEAA (Law Enforcement Assessment Administration) recommend a response time of 1 minute or less to a crime scene. “Most cases are not won in the in the court room but within the first hour of the investigation”
Priorities of the 1st P.O. • Aid the victim • Arrest suspects • Interview witnesses for a composite • Provide descriptions to other officers • Secure the crime scene • Locard’s Exchange Principle • Use crime scene tape • Keep log of all who enter the crime scene
Responsibilities of the Investigator • Interview the 1st Police Officer at the CS • Question victims, witnesses, and suspect • Conduct initial walk through + take field notes • Document Crime Scene a. Photograph b. sketch 5. Search for additional evidence 6. ID and Collect all physical evidence 7. Record all findings in notes and logs.
Res Gestae Statements • Spontaneous statements made at the time of a crime concern and closely related to actions involved in the crime. They are often considered more truthful than later, planned responses.
II. Aim of a Preliminary Investigation • To determine if a crime has been committed 1. Knowledge of the elements of each major offense (NYS Penal Law) 2. Identify the evidence that supports the elements of a crime Corpus Delecti 3. Establish t/p/o (time, place of occurrence).
Aim continued B. To determine if evidence discovered at a crime scene is what it is thought to be. 1. Field Testing – kits that determine if red stains are blood or white powdery substances are illegal drugs (contraband)
Aim continued C. Establish a Command Center 1. Central location for collecting, collating, and disseminating information for that particular crime scene. 2. Never located in a crime scene
Aim cont. D. Dealing with the media 1. Issuing statements and some information pertinent for public information without violating 1st amendment freedom of the press. Controversy: 1st Amendment v. 6th + 14th Amends. Freedom of the Press Right to a fair trial
Discussion Question • Do you think the news media affects the fair trial of defendants?
III. Follow-up Investigation • Goal: To obtain additional information needed to prosecute a case that was not discovered in the preliminary investigation (EX. Weather destroys evidence, uncooperative witnesses) • Leads 1. Victimology 2. Informant information (Canvass) 3. Beneficiaries (Insurance policies) 4. Determine Means, Motive,+ Opportunity 5. Searching data bases (Probation + Parole for recent releases)