Criminal Investigation

Front Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 2
Copyright......Page 4
CONTENTS......Page 8
PREFACE......Page 20
Section 1 INTRODUCTION......Page 27
1 Criminal Investigation: An Overview......Page 29
Criminal Investigation Definitions......Page 31
Goals of Criminal Investigations......Page 32
Basic Functions......Page 33
Characteristics of an Effective Investigator......Page 34
An Overview of the Investigative Process......Page 37
The Preliminary Investigation: Basic Considerations......Page 38
Crime Scene Investigators......Page 43
The Follow-Up Investigation......Page 44
Computer-Aided Investigation......Page 46
Problem-Oriented Policing......Page 47
The Investigative Function: The Responsibility of All Police Personnel......Page 48
Interrelationships with Others—Community Policing......Page 50
Law Enforcement Resources......Page 54
Avoiding Civil Liability......Page 55
Checklist......Page 57
Internet......Page 58
References......Page 59
Cases Cited......Page 60
Section 2 BASIC INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES......Page 61
2 Documenting the Crime Scene: Note Taking, Photographing and Sketching......Page 63
Field Notes: The Basics......Page 65
Filing Notes......Page 68
Investigative Photography: An Overview......Page 69
Basic Photographic Equipment......Page 70
Training in and Using Investigative Photography......Page 73
Types of Investigative Photography......Page 75
Identifying, Filing and Maintaining Security of Evidence......Page 78
Admissibility of Photographs in Court......Page 79
The Rough Sketch......Page 80
Steps in Sketching the Crime Scene......Page 81
File the Sketch......Page 87
The Finished Scale Drawing......Page 88
Computer-Assisted Drawing......Page 89
Admissibility of Sketches and Drawings in Court......Page 91
Summary......Page 92
Checklists......Page 93
References......Page 94
3 Writing Effective Reports......Page 95
The Importance of Reports......Page 97
Uses of Reports......Page 98
Common Problems with Many Police Reports......Page 99
The Well-Written Report: From Start to Finish......Page 100
Taping and Dictating Reports......Page 110
Evaluating Your Report......Page 111
The Final Report......Page 112
A Final Note on the Importance of Well-Written Reports......Page 113
Crime and Evidence in Action......Page 115
Cases Cited......Page 116
4 Searches......Page 117
The Exclusionary Rule......Page 119
Justification for Reasonable Searches......Page 120
The Crime Scene Search......Page 129
Search Patterns......Page 131
Other Types of Investigatory Searches......Page 135
Use of Dogs in a Search......Page 139
A Reminder......Page 140
Discussion Questions......Page 141
References......Page 142
Cases Cited......Page 143
A Helpful Resource......Page 144
5 Forensics/Physical Evidence......Page 145
Definitions......Page 147
Investigative Equipment......Page 148
Crime Scene Integrity and Contamination of Evidence......Page 151
Processing Evidence: Maintaining the Chain of Custody from Discovery to Disposal......Page 152
Frequently Examined Evidence......Page 160
Evidence Handling and Infectious Disease......Page 189
Summary......Page 191
Internet......Page 192
References......Page 193
Cases Cited......Page 194
6 Obtaining Information and Intelligence......Page 195
Sources of Information......Page 197
Interviewing and Interrogating......Page 201
The Interview......Page 205
The Interrogation......Page 209
Questioning Children and Juveniles......Page 220
Scientific Aids to Obtaining and Evaluating Information......Page 221
Sharing Information......Page 224
Information versus Intelligence......Page 226
Checklist......Page 228
References......Page 229
Cases Cited......Page 230
7 Identifying and Arresting Suspects......Page 231
Identifying Suspects at the Scene......Page 233
Identifying Suspects......Page 241
Surveillance, Undercover Assignments and Raids: The Last Resort......Page 244
Surveillance......Page 245
Undercover Assignments......Page 251
Raids......Page 253
Legal Arrests......Page 256
Avoiding Civil Liability When Making Arrests......Page 259
Checklists......Page 268
Discussion Questions......Page 269
References......Page 270
Cases Cited......Page 272
Section 3 INVESTIGATING VIOLENT CRIMES......Page 273
8 Death Investigations......Page 277
Classification of Deaths......Page 279
Elements of the Crime......Page 281
The Declining Clearance Rate......Page 283
Challenges in Investigation......Page 284
Equivocal Death......Page 285
Suicide......Page 286
Preliminary Investigation of Homicide......Page 288
Discovering and Identifying the Victim......Page 290
Estimating the Time of Death (TOD)......Page 291
The Medical Examination or Autopsy......Page 297
Unnatural Causes of Death and Method Used......Page 298
The Homicide Victim......Page 304
Witnesses......Page 305
Suspects......Page 306
Cold Cases......Page 309
Death Notification......Page 310
Strategies for Reducing Homicide......Page 311
A Case Study......Page 312
Summary......Page 313
Application......Page 314
References......Page 315
Case Cited......Page 316
9 Assault, Domestic Violence, Stalking and Elder Abuse......Page 317
Classification......Page 319
Elements of the Crime......Page 320
Special Challenges in Investigation......Page 321
The Preliminary Investigation......Page 322
Investigating Domestic Violence......Page 323
Investigating Stalking......Page 331
Investigating Elder Abuse......Page 334
Application......Page 338
References......Page 339
Cases Cited......Page 340
10 Sex Offenses......Page 341
Investigating Prostitution......Page 343
Investigating Human Trafficking......Page 344
Classification of Sex Offenses......Page 346
Rape/Sexual Assault......Page 347
Challenges to Investigation......Page 349
The Police Response......Page 351
The Victim’s Medical Examination......Page 353
Interviewing the Victim......Page 354
Coordination with Other Agencies......Page 357
Civil Commitment of Sex Offenders after Sentences Served......Page 358
Sex Offender Registry and Notification......Page 359
Other Means to Monitor Sex Offenders......Page 361
Application......Page 362
Crime and Evidence in Action......Page 363
Cases Cited......Page 364
11 Crimes against Children......Page 365
Maltreatment of Children: Neglect and Abuse......Page 367
The Extent of the Problem......Page 369
Risk Factors for and Causes of Abuse and Neglect......Page 371
Child Abuse and Neglect Laws......Page 372
Case Processing......Page 373
Challenges in Investigating Maltreatment Cases......Page 374
The Initial Report......Page 375
The Police Response......Page 376
Evidence......Page 379
The Suspect......Page 380
The Pedophile......Page 384
Commercial Sexual Exploitation......Page 386
Missing Children: Runaway or Abducted?......Page 390
Preventing Crimes against Children......Page 395
Application......Page 397
Discussion Questions......Page 398
References......Page 399
Cases Cited......Page 400
12 Robbery......Page 401
Robbery: An Overview......Page 403
Classification......Page 405
Special Challenges in Investigation......Page 410
The Preliminary Investigation......Page 413
Proving the Elements of the Offense......Page 414
The Complete Investigation......Page 416
False Robbery Reports......Page 418
Application......Page 419
References......Page 421
Section 4 INVESTIGATING CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY......Page 423
13 Burglary......Page 425
Classification......Page 427
Elements of the Crime: Burglary......Page 429
Elements of the Crime: Possession of Burglary Tools......Page 430
Responding to a Burglary Call......Page 431
The Preliminary Investigation......Page 432
Determining Entry into Structures......Page 433
Determining Entry into Safes and Vaults......Page 434
Obtaining Physical Evidence......Page 435
Modus Operandi Factors......Page 436
Recovering Stolen Property......Page 437
The Offense of Receiving Stolen Goods......Page 438
IACP/Choice Point Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigation......Page 439
Application......Page 441
References......Page 442
14 Larceny/Theft, Fraud and White-Collar Crime......Page 443
Elements of the Crime......Page 445
Found Property......Page 446
Types of Larceny/Theft......Page 447
Proving the Elements of the Crime......Page 456
Fraud......Page 457
White-Collar Crime......Page 467
A Final Note about Jurisdiction......Page 473
Checklist......Page 475
Internet......Page 476
References......Page 477
15 Motor Vehicle Theft......Page 479
Motor Vehicle Identification......Page 481
Classification of Motor Vehicle Theft......Page 482
Motor Vehicle Embezzlement......Page 485
Insurance Fraud......Page 486
Cooperating Agencies in Motor Vehicle Theft......Page 487
Recognizing a Stolen Motor Vehicle or an Unauthorized Driver......Page 488
Recovering an Abandoned or Stolen Motor Vehicle......Page 489
Combating Motor Vehicle Theft......Page 490
Thefts of Trucks, Construction Vehicles, Aircraft and Other Motorized Vehicles......Page 492
Checklist......Page 496
Crime and Evidence in Action......Page 497
References......Page 498
16 Arson, Bombs and Explosives......Page 499
Elements of the Crime......Page 501
Classification of Arson......Page 502
The Arsonist......Page 503
Police and Fire Department Cooperation......Page 504
Other Sources of Assistance in Investigating Arson......Page 505
The Preliminary Investigation......Page 507
Search Warrants and Fire Investigations......Page 512
Investigating Bombings and Explosions......Page 513
Responding to a Bomb Threat......Page 515
Investigating Bomb Explosions......Page 517
Checklist......Page 519
Application......Page 520
References......Page 521
Cases Cited......Page 522
Section 5 OTHER CHALLENGES TO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR......Page 523
17 Computer Crime......Page 525
The Scope and Cost of the Problem......Page 527
Terminology and Definitions......Page 530
Classification and Types of Computer Crimes......Page 533
Special Challenges in Investigation......Page 536
The Preliminary Investigation......Page 539
Legal Considerations in Collecting and Analyzing Computer Evidence......Page 549
Follow-Up Investigation......Page 550
Security of the Police Department’s Computers......Page 552
The Investigative Team......Page 553
Resources Available......Page 555
Preventing Computer Crime......Page 556
Checklist......Page 558
Internet......Page 559
Cases Cited......Page 560
18 A Dual Threat: Drug-Related Crime and Organized Crime......Page 561
Seriousness and Extent of the Drug Problem......Page 563
Legal Definitions......Page 564
Identification and Classification of Controlled Drugs......Page 565
Investigating Illegal Possession or Use of Controlled Substances......Page 575
Investigating Illegal Sale and Distribution of Controlled Substances......Page 577
Clandestine Drug Laboratories......Page 582
Investigative Aids......Page 585
Drug Asset Forfeitures......Page 586
Preventing Problems with Illegal Drugs: Community Partnerships......Page 587
The National Drug Control Strategy......Page 588
Organized Crime: An Overview......Page 589
Major Activities of Organized Crime......Page 590
The Threat of Specific Organized Crime Groups......Page 591
The Police Response......Page 595
Methods to Combat Organized Crime......Page 596
The Decline of Organized Crime?......Page 597
Checklists......Page 599
Application......Page 600
References......Page 601
Case Cited......Page 602
19 Criminal Activities of Gangs and Other Dangerous Groups......Page 603
Extent of Gangs......Page 605
Types of Gangs......Page 606
Gang Culture, Membership and Organization......Page 611
Gang Activities......Page 612
Identifying Gang Members......Page 615
Investigating Illegal Gang Activity......Page 618
Approaches to the Gang Problem......Page 619
Federal Efforts to Combat the Gang Problem......Page 621
Bias and Hate Crime: An Overview......Page 622
Hate Groups......Page 623
The Police Response......Page 624
Efforts to Combat Bias and Hate Crimes......Page 625
Ritualistic Crime: An Overview......Page 628
The Nature of Ritualistic Crimes......Page 629
Who Commits Ritualistic Crime?......Page 630
Investigating Ritualistic Crimes......Page 631
Special Challenges in Ritualistic Crime Investigations......Page 634
Checklist......Page 635
Crime and Evidence in Action......Page 636
Cases Cited......Page 637
20 Terrorism and Homeland Security......Page 638
Terrorism: An Overview......Page 641
Classification of Terrorist Acts......Page 642
Terrorist Groups in the United States......Page 645
Methods Used by Terrorists......Page 647
The Federal Response to Terrorism......Page 651
Investigating Possible Terrorist Activities......Page 656
Information Gathering and Intelligence Sharing......Page 658
Initiatives to Assist in the Fight against Terrorism......Page 660
Concerns Related to the War on Terrorism......Page 662
Community Policing and Homeland Security......Page 663
Application......Page 666
References......Page 667
Useful Resources......Page 669
21 Preparing for and Presenting Cases in Court......Page 670
The Final Report......Page 672
The Role of the Prosecutor......Page 673
Preparing a Case for Prosecution......Page 674
The Trial......Page 678
Sequence of a Criminal Trial......Page 679
Testifying under Direct Examination......Page 680
Testifying under Cross-Examination......Page 685
Advice on Testifying from a Seasoned, “Officer of the Year” Investigator......Page 688
Checklist......Page 691
References......Page 692
Cases Cited......Page 693
Appendix A: Patrol Crime Scene Management Checklist......Page 695
Appendix B: Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Case Review Solvability Chart......Page 697
Appendix C: Sudden In-Custody Death: An Investigator’s Checklist......Page 699
Appendix D: Death Scene Checklist......Page 703
Appendix E: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Cold Case Solvability Criteria......Page 707
Appendix F: Sample Form for Reporting Bias Crime......Page 709
GLOSSARY......Page 711
AUTHOR INDEX......Page 725
SUBJECT INDEX......Page 729