NCJ Number
200051
Date Published
2003
Length
925 pages
Annotation
This book is designed to bring the reader to an intermediate level of attainment in the main branches of criminal investigation.
Abstract
Part I of the book contains three chapters that provide general information on methods of investigation, the investigator's notebook, and report writing. The four chapters of Part II focus on the initial steps in a criminal investigation, which include the crime scene search, photographing the crime scene, the crime scene sketch, and the care of evidence. Part III addresses the obtaining of information through interviews; interrogations; admissions, confessions, and written statements; recording interviews and interrogations; informants; tracing and sources of information; missing persons; surveillance; and undercover assignments. Part IV contains chapters on the investigative procedures for specific types of offenses. The offenses are arson, narcotics violations, sex offenses, larceny, burglary, robbery, forgery, homicide, assault, and criminal explosions. Part V contains two chapters pertinent to the role of the investigator in court; topics covered are the rules of evidence and testimony. The 10 chapters of Part VI discuss the following topics related to identification and reproduction: observation and description, identification by witnesses, fingerprints and the mechanics of recording, latent fingerprints, the classification of fingerprints, casting, various impressions, broken glass, firearms, tracing materials, and detective dyes. Among the new topics introduced in this seventh edition are stalking, carjacking, home invasion robbery, drug-facilitated rape, electronic evidence collection, clandestine laboratories, and the CODIS (COmbined DNA Index System) identification system. There has been an extensive revision of the narcotics chapter to reflect the changing patterns of illegal drug use. "Additional Reading" sections at the end of each chapter have been updated, and a glossary of useful criminal investigation terms has been introduced. 24 tables, appended discussion of white-collar crime investigations and suggestions for law enforcement agencies transmitting evidence to the FBI Laboratory, a glossary, and a subject index