Essential Qualities of an Essential Qualities of an InvestigatorInvestigator

Self-DisciplineSelf-Discipline EthicalEthical Uses legal means and methodsUses legal means and methods Ability to win confidence of peopleAbility to win confidence of people Good at documentationGood at documentation Systematic/organizedSystematic/organized System of contacts/informantsSystem of contacts/informants

Objectives of A Criminal Objectives of A Criminal InvestigationInvestigation

1.1. To prove or disprove that a crime was To prove or disprove that a crime was committed.committed.

2.2. To identify and locate the suspect (s)To identify and locate the suspect (s) a. By effective crime scene managementa. By effective crime scene management b. By eyewitness info to include the victimb. By eyewitness info to include the victim c. d. By confessionc. d. By confession

3. To provide evidence of guilt3. To provide evidence of guilt a. By physical/circumstantial evidencea. By physical/circumstantial evidence b. By establishing the elements of the crimeb. By establishing the elements of the crime

4.4. Successful investigationSuccessful investigation When everything was done that could, or should, be When everything was done that could, or should, be

done whether the case is solved or notdone whether the case is solved or not

DefinitionsDefinitions

Crime Scene:Crime Scene: The locale within the immediate vicinity of the The locale within the immediate vicinity of the

occurrence wherein evidence may be found.occurrence wherein evidence may be found.

• EvidenceEvidence- Evidence consists of those things offered to prove the Evidence consists of those things offered to prove the

existence of a fact.existence of a fact.

• Crime Scene Search:Crime Scene Search:A planned, coordinated, legal search by competent A planned, coordinated, legal search by competent persons to locate evidence and/or witnesses to the persons to locate evidence and/or witnesses to the crime under investigationcrime under investigation

Reconstruction Reconstruction of a crime scene is a of a crime scene is a series of individual problems that, when solved, series of individual problems that, when solved, contribute to the reconstruction of the whole event.contribute to the reconstruction of the whole event.

Preliminary InvestigationPreliminary Investigation

Three Major Functions at a Crime Three Major Functions at a Crime SceneScene

1.1. Recognition of EvidenceRecognition of Evidence

2.2. Record the location, condition, etc.Record the location, condition, etc.

3.3. Collection, control and preservationCollection, control and preservation

Organization of the Crime SceneOrganization of the Crime Scene

Reconstruct what happenedReconstruct what happened Determine the sequence of eventsDetermine the sequence of events Find out what the suspect did or did not doFind out what the suspect did or did not do Establish the M.O.Establish the M.O. Determine what property was stolen or Determine what property was stolen or

what was left by the suspectwhat was left by the suspect Reveal the motiveReveal the motive Locate and interview witnessesLocate and interview witnesses

Importance of the Crime Scene Importance of the Crime Scene SearchSearch

Evidence at the scene may be the only way of Evidence at the scene may be the only way of placing the suspect at the scene and/or connecting placing the suspect at the scene and/or connecting them with the crime.them with the crime.

Attorneys will attack methods of collection, Attorneys will attack methods of collection, processing and handling – it must be done right!processing and handling – it must be done right!

When properly collected, identified and presented, When properly collected, identified and presented, physical evidence will stand where eye witnesses, physical evidence will stand where eye witnesses, confessions and admissions may fail.confessions and admissions may fail.

It may help to establish Most serious/major crimes It may help to establish Most serious/major crimes end up in court.end up in court.

corpus delicti and/or modus operandicorpus delicti and/or modus operandi THERE IS ONLY ONE CHANCE TO RECOVER THERE IS ONLY ONE CHANCE TO RECOVER

EVIDENCE.EVIDENCE.

CRIME SCENE CONTROL CRIME SCENE CONTROL

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

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TYPES OF EVIDENCETYPES OF EVIDENCE

Testimonial (eyewitness statements)Testimonial (eyewitness statements) Documentary (records, confessions)Documentary (records, confessions) Physical – which includes:Physical – which includes: 3 General Categories of Evidence:3 General Categories of Evidence:

- - Corpus DelictiCorpus Delicti – establishes that a crime – establishes that a crime has been committed, I.e. a body has been committed, I.e. a body

- - AssociativeAssociative – Links a suspect to the – Links a suspect to the crimecrime

--TraceTrace (hair, fibers, blood) (hair, fibers, blood)

--Direct Direct (fingerprints, blood alcohol content)(fingerprints, blood alcohol content)

--CircumstantialCircumstantial (seen leaving the scene) (seen leaving the scene)

Specific Classifications of EvidenceSpecific Classifications of Evidence

Hand outHand out

Typical Documentation of a Major Typical Documentation of a Major Crime SceneCrime Scene

Note: Most cases do not require extensive Note: Most cases do not require extensive documentation. Major cases (death, sexual documentation. Major cases (death, sexual assault, robbery w/injuries) are more likely to assault, robbery w/injuries) are more likely to have this type of documentation.have this type of documentation.

Crime Scene Entry LogCrime Scene Entry Log Admin Log (who is doing what)Admin Log (who is doing what) Assignment Sheets (what I did)Assignment Sheets (what I did) Photo logPhoto log Evidence Recovery LogEvidence Recovery Log Lifted-Prints LogLifted-Prints Log

EVIDENCE RECOVERY LOGEVIDENCE RECOVERY LOG

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

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Typical Problems at Major Typical Problems at Major Crime ScenesCrime Scenes

WeatherWeather

Mental State/Emotional Level of Victim, Witnesses Mental State/Emotional Level of Victim, Witnesses and by-standersand by-standers

Lack of sufficient processing equipment or Lack of sufficient processing equipment or manpowermanpower

Command who drop byCommand who drop by

News media if a high profile event (murder)News media if a high profile event (murder)

MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS OF THE MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS OF THE CRIME SCENE SEARCH CRIME SCENE SEARCH

Boundary Determination Boundary Determination Choice of Search PatternsChoice of Search Patterns Instruction of PersonnelInstruction of Personnel CoordinationCoordination DocumentationDocumentation

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Areas Where A Search for Evidence Areas Where A Search for Evidence Should be MadeShould be Made

Near where event occurred (near body)Near where event occurred (near body) Point of Entry on scenePoint of Entry on scene Point of Egress from scenePoint of Egress from scene Suspect (clothing, hands, fingernails)Suspect (clothing, hands, fingernails) Vehicle usedVehicle used Suspect residenceSuspect residence

The list of locations to be searched The list of locations to be searched may be as extensive as the crime is may be as extensive as the crime is complex.complex.

CRIME SCENE SEARCH CRIME SCENE SEARCH PATTERNSPATTERNS

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

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(a) Spiral

(b) Strip/Line

(c) Grid

(d) Zone/Quadrant

(e) Pie/Wheel

COLLECTION, PRESERVATION COLLECTION, PRESERVATION AND CARE OF EVIDENCEAND CARE OF EVIDENCE

CHAIN OF CUSTODYCHAIN OF CUSTODY

DOCUMENTING THE CRIME DOCUMENTING THE CRIME SCENESCENE

WAYS TO DOCUMENT A THE CRIME WAYS TO DOCUMENT A THE CRIME SCENE VISUALLY INCLUDE:SCENE VISUALLY INCLUDE:

Video tapingVideo taping PhotographingPhotographing SketchingSketching

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(Courtesy Lewiston, Maine, Police Department)

Crime Scene SketchesCrime Scene Sketches

Relates to the sequence of events at the sceneRelates to the sequence of events at the scene Accurate portrayal of the physical factsAccurate portrayal of the physical facts

Establishes the precise location and relationship of objects Establishes the precise location and relationship of objects and evidence at the sceneand evidence at the scene

Helps create a mental picure of the sceneHelps create a mental picure of the scene

Provides a Permanent RecordProvides a Permanent Record

Usually admitted in Court Usually admitted in Court

Why Worry About the Police Why Worry About the Police ReportReport

WHO READS THE REPORT?WHO READS THE REPORT?

REPORT WRITINGREPORT WRITING

Good reports answer the following Good reports answer the following questions:questions:

WHOWHO WHAT WHAT WHENWHEN WHEREWHERE HOWHOW

REPORT WRITINGREPORT WRITING TESTS OF A REPORTTESTS OF A REPORT

A.A. IS THE REPORT COMPLETE, CONCISE, CLEAR IS THE REPORT COMPLETE, CONCISE, CLEAR AND ACCURATEAND ACCURATE

B.B. WILL AN ORAL EXPLANATION BE REQUIRED WILL AN ORAL EXPLANATION BE REQUIRED TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS ALREADY INCLUDEDTO EXPLAIN WHAT IS ALREADY INCLUDED

C.C. CAN STATEMENTS MADE IN THE REPORT BE CAN STATEMENTS MADE IN THE REPORT BE PROVEN OR DEMONSTRATED BY EVIDENCEPROVEN OR DEMONSTRATED BY EVIDENCE

D.D. IS THE REPORT FREE OF BIAS IS THE REPORT FREE OF BIAS

Main Categories of Police Main Categories of Police ReportsReports

Complaint/Major Offense ReportsComplaint/Major Offense Reports

Followup/Supplmental ReportsFollowup/Supplmental Reports

Miscellaneous:Miscellaneous:Evidence ReportsEvidence Reports

Lab ReportsLab Reports

Etc. (Depends on Agency)Etc. (Depends on Agency)