NCJ Number
148118
Date Published
1975
Length
200 pages
Annotation
A 2-year study of police investigation was conducted to describe national investigative organization and practices, assess the contribution that police investigation makes to the achievement of criminal justice goals, determine the effectiveness of new technology and systems being used to improve investigations, and relate investigational effectiveness to differences in organization.
Abstract
Data were collected from questionnaires completed from 153 jurisdictions whose law enforcement departments had 150 or more officers. The results of the study are presented in three volumes. This volume presents a comprehensive description of the criminal investigation process and analyzes those issues that can be illustrated by quantitative data. As a foundation for describing police investigations, the researchers identified its objectives, including deterring and preventing crime, uncovering the occurrence of crime, identifying and apprehending offenders, recovering stolen property, supporting prosecution, and maintaining public confidence in the police. The components of this criminal investigation study are described in detail here, including a literature review, description of the investigative function, how detectives spend their time, how crimes are solved, the role of physical evidence collection and processing, investigative thoroughness, information feedback to victims, and the investigative strike force. 4 figures, 39 tables, 4 appendixes, and 126 references