NCJ Number
75440
Date Published
1981
Length
229 pages
Annotation
Written by a professional investigator for students and practitioners, the text covers the fundamentals and methods of private security investigation and provides case studies to illustrate the theories and techniques discussed.
Abstract
It covers in detail those investigative skills which are essential in private security investigation: surveillance techniques, interviewing and interrogation, evidence collection, gathering of confessions and written statements, the use of informants, and report writing and notetaking. The author explains that information is developed through such basic techniques as undercover investigation, surveillance, background investigation, and the variety of internal strategies that may be used to expose covert crimes. As the investigation focuses on specific acts or individuals, additional procedures are used to build a case. Interviews and interrogations take place and physical evidence is analyzed. Investigators will ferret out and follow up every piece of information that might be useful in identifying who was responsible for an incident. To do that successfully, they must know where to look and how to narrow the scope of inquiries by limiting and defining the time factor. Their investigative strategies are often dependent on finding out how the crime was committed. Also, learning who was responsible for a given action requires an understanding of human motivation. The author also compares and contrasts public and private sector enforcers and pinpoints the problems facing the investigator in the private agency. Chapter notes, an index, and illustrations are included.