Transcript Criminal Investigations

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
• 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
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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.
Processing for Latent Prints
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?
Shoe Impressions
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.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Aid the victim
Arrest suspects
Interview witnesses for a composite
Provide descriptions to other officers
Secure the crime scene
a. Locard’s Exchange Principle
b. Use crime scene tape
c. 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.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Crime Scene Sketching
Collecting Physical Evidence
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.
How reliable are witnesses?
II. Aim of a Preliminary
Investigation
A. 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
Guilty or Innocent ?
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)
A.
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)
Victimology