NCJ Number
63290
Date Published
1980
Length
463 pages
Annotation
DESIGNED AS A TEXT FOR COLLEGE COURSES IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, THIS BOOK COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FUNCTION OF POLICE. NEW IDEAS IN CRIME DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE OF EVIDENCE IS THE PREDOMINANT THEME. SEARCHING FOR AND COLLECTING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT CRIME SCENES AND INTERVIEWING WITNESSES ARE EXAMINED AS BASIC ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. BASIC INVESTIGATIVE LEADS ARE PRESENTED IN DETAIL TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IN WHICH THE CRIME AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THE KEY EVENTS. EYEWITNESSES AND THE CORROBORATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF MOTIVE, OPPORTUNITY, AND MODUS OPERANDI ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. LABORATORY SERVICES, OTHER SCIENTIFIC AIDS, SURVEILLANCE, SOURCES OF INFORMATION, POLICE INTELLIGENCE, AND INTERROGATION ARE PRESENTED AS PROCEDURES IN LAW AND SCIENCE WITH NEW STANDARDS OF REASONABLENESS AND SCIENTIFIC METHOD. THE POLICE APPREHENSION PROCESS, THE CONTINUING INVESTIGATION, AND THE FOCUSING OF THE CASE ARE HANDLED AS MAJOR SEGMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FUNCTION OF THE POLICE. THE EMERGING CONCEPT OF DEVELOPING NEGATIVE EVIDENCE TO BLOCK COMMON DEFENSES IS FULLY EXPLORED IN TERMS OF THE PROCEDURES USED TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE INVESTIGATOR AND PROSECUTOR HAVE THE BURDEN OF PROVING THE GUILT OF ACCUSED PERSONS BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. SCRUPULOUS ACCURACY IN REPORTING THE RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO DISPEL ANY ALLEGATIONS OF UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY IN GATHERING EVIDENCE ARE ESTABLISHED AS GUIDELINES TO MAINTAIN AN INVESTIGATION AS A LAWFUL SEARCH FOR TRUTH INSOFAR AS IT CAN BE DISCLOSED IN ANY POST-FACTUM INQUIRY. THE CONTINUITY OF INVESTIGATION IS MAINTAINED ALONG THE TRADITIONAL LINES OF WHAT HAPPENED, WHO DID IT, AND WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF PROOF. EMPHASIS IS PLACED UPON SOLVING CRIMES AND UPON THE INVESTIGATION'S ROLE IN EXONERATING THE INNOCENT AND DISCOVERING AND IDENTIFYING THE GUILTY. THE ELEMENTS OF INVESTIGATION ARE DETAILED AND HOW TO INVESTIGATE CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY, AND ORGANIZED CRIME IS EXPLAINED. CASE STUDIES ARE USED TO HIGHLIGHT FELONY INVESTIGATION METHODS. CONTAINING 27 CHAPTERS, THE BOOK IS DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS: INTRODUCTION, ELEMENTS OF INVESTIGATION, AND INVESTIGATING MAJOR CRIMES. STUDY QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS, CHAPTER REFERENCES, AND CHAPTER REVIEWS ARE PROVIDED. ILLUSTRATIONS, PHOTOGRAPHS, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)