CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND CRIMINALISTICS (FROM INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1979, BY DAE H CHANG SEE NCJ-66990)

• NCJ Number: 66994
• Author(s): W W DUNNING
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: Kendall/ Hunt Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

IN THIS TEXTBOOK CHAPTER, THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR IS DESCRIBED AS WORKING IN THE FIELD AND WITH PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO THE CRIMINALIST WHO WORKS IN THE LABORATORY AND WITH THINGS.

Abstract

THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS IS TRACED FROM THE MOMENT THE CRIME IS DISCOVERED, THROUGH THE CRIME SCENE SEARCH TO THE SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE. THREE AVENUES THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR MAY TAKE IN SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE ARE DETAILED, INCLUDING LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS, USE OF THE INVESTIGATOR'S OWN IMAGINATION, AND INFORMATION GATHERING (SUCH AS SURVEILLANCE, QUESTIONING, AND GENERAL DETECTIVE WORK). DISCUSSION THEN TURNS TO CRIMINALISTICS AND THE IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE. LEGAL CLASSIFICATIONS AND USES OF EVIDENCE ARE IDENTIFIED. WAYS OF COLLECTING AND EXAMINING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE ARE EXPLORED, AND ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE TESTIMONY THAT HELPS TO QUALIFY EVIDENCE. FINALLY, TYPES OF EVIDENCE THE CRIMINALIST CONFRONTS ARE ANALYZED INCLUDING THE CATEGORIES OF IMPRINTS AND IMPRESSIONS, WEAPONS, FIREARMS, BLOOD AND OTHER BODY FLUIDS, AND GLASS. NOTES, SUGGESTED READINGS, AND TEST QUESTIONS ARE SUPPLIED. (MHP)