1 Book Cover Here Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Chapter 4 PEOPLE AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing the Past, 7 th Edition

2 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Criminals and Victims The Criminal – Motive – Modus Operandi (M.O.) Identification Apprehension – Psychological Profiling – Clues from Evidence Brought to Crime Scene – Confessions and Admissions The Victim – A victim is at the same time a witness

3 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved The Criminal Mind Body Words Actions

4 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Motive Two Classes 1. Robbery, Rape, Burglary 2. Homicide, Arson, Assault – More likely to have a particularized motive; when one is discovered, the connection between victim and criminal may be deduced A jury is more likely to be convinced of a defendant’s guilt if a motive for committing the crime can be shown

5 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Modus Operandi (MO) When collected, stored, and classified, MO information can assist in the identification and apprehension of a perpetrator Can be useful in devising strategies for deterring crime

6 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Modus Operandi (MO) Identification – When an individual has an arrest record and a unique MO is on file, an identification may occur if the MO is used again and recognized Apprehension – Analysis of the MO may provide the basis for a plan to apprehend an offender

7 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Psychological Profiling Procedure is confined to crimes of brutality or those in which strong emotions were manifest and has been employed to a limited extent Purpose is to recognize and interpret visible evidence at the scene as indicative of the personality type of the perpetrator. Information may help during interrogation Behavioral Science Unit was formed in 1972 at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA.

8 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Confession Ultimate result of an interrogation may be a written, signed confession A statement that stops short of a confession yet admits to facts from which guilt may be inferred is called an admission – Coupled with independent, corroborative physical evidence or testimony, an admission against one’s interests may be sufficient to meet the reasonable doubt criterion the law imposes on a jury

9 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Witnesses – The Five Senses: Visual, Auditory, Smell, Touch, & Taste – Describing the Perpetrator – Describing Vehicles or Weapons Vehicles Weapons Persons Acquainted with the Suspect – Informants

10 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Describing the Perpetrator Verbal description — portrait parlé A likeness of the perceived image is captured by a police artist A likeness of the perceived image is captured by mechanical means such as Identi-Kit or Penry Photo-Fit

11 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Follow-Up Activities Surveillance – Locating Suspect – Determining Activities of Suspect Concluding Existence of Probable Cause for Search Warrant – Based on Behavior of Suspect – Obtaining Information for Interrogation – Lineup (Identification Parade) – Neighborhood Canvass

12 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Surveillance The unobtrusive observation of a person, place, or thing. Has a dual function in police work: one is investigative, the other, preventive. – To locate a suspect – To obtain detailed information about the nature and scope of an individual’s activities as they relate to suspected criminality – To prevent the commission of crimes such as arson or robbery, which may put lives in jeopardy – To apprehend immediately those who commit a crime while under surveillance

13 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Determining Activities of a Suspect To identify a suspect’s associates; and to infer from their observed behavior any criminal intentions or plans To obtain evidence necessary to establish probable cause for a search warrant or arrest To obtain information useful for interrogating a suspect To establish patterns of travel and behavior of a suspect As a means of later establishing the truthfulness of a suspect’s statements

14 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Lineup “Identification Parade” Assembled for the purpose of having the perpetrator correctly identified by those who witnessed the crime Also employed to protect the innocent

15 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Questioning People: Proposed Refinements Lie Detection – Polygraph – Voice Stress Analysis Hypnosis Nonverbal Communication

16 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Nonverbal Communication Communication is not limited to the spoken or written word: thoughts and feelings not stated openly may be expressed unconsciously through non-verbal behavior Kinesics: Eye, hand, fast movements, facial expression, body posture Paralinguistics: Voice intonation, changes in verbal expressions Proxemics: Posture and body movements

17 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Value of Nonverbal Signals Subtle attempt to induce a belief in their innocence Attempts to demonstrate – Sincerity – Concern for the victim – Shock at a question that implies involvement Detecting Deception – Lies – Contradictions

18 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved Conclusion People are at the core of any criminal investigation Investigators need to improve their own verbal and cognitive skills – involves much more than experience Be alert to your own biases, traits, and nonverbal cues