NCJ Number
211548
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 53 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2005 Pages: 100-104
Date Published
September 2005
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article examines creative methods and strategies utilized by law enforcement in the investigation and solving of crimes.
Abstract
There are constitutional constraints placed on police methods, as well as State laws, case law, and local policies and procedures. Therefore, it is up to the investigator to use his creativity or the creativity of others to think of new innovative ways to develop investigative strategies to solve crimes and stay within the law. This article briefly describes and examines several creative strategies utilized in criminal investigations. These investigative strategies include: (1) mail cover--a process where a nonconsensual record is made of any data appearing on the outside of any mail delivered to an address; (2) informants or witnesses; (3) phone calls--a recorded phone call to the suspect from the victim or a personal conversation between the suspect and the victim; (4) the Internet; (5) search warrants or consent searches; (6) lie detection tools--the polygraph and the Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA); (7) trash pulls--once trash is place outside for pick-up, privacy is relinquished giving the investigator legal access to the trash; and (8) investigators--other investigators allow the pooling of experience and resources.