1. Criminal Investigations

2. Criminal Investigation
Process of discovering, collecting, preparing, identifying, and presenting evidence to determine what happened and who is reponsible

3. Crime Scene
Any place where a crime has been committed

4. Goals of Criminal Investigation
Determine if a crime has been committed
Legally obtain information and evidence
Arrest a suspect
Recover any stolen property
Present the best possible case to the prosecutor

5. Characteristics of a good investigator
Self discipline
Patience
Attention to detail
Initiative

6. Sensitivity and compassion
Objectivity
perseverance

7. Steps in criminal investigation
Arrive at the crime scene and secure it (patrol officer)
Preliminary investigation (patrol officer)
Follow up investigation (detectives)

8. 3 search categories
Hot search
Warm search
Cold search

9. Hot search
Crime has just occurred and suspect may still be at scene

10. Warm Search
Search begins immediately and suspect is gone from the scene

11. Cold Search
Suspect has left the scene and time has passed since the incident

12. Types of evidence
Direct
Circumstantial
exculpatory

13. Circumstantial Evidence
Deductions or inferences from information collected during the investigation
Ex: suspect shoe size fits the footprint found at the crime scene

14. Exculpatory evidence Physical evidence that clears a person of blame
Ex: suspect has different DNA than found on the victim of a rape

15. Direct evidence
Stands alone
Ex: eyewitness testimony

16. Interview
Planned questioning of a witness or victim to gather information

17. Interrogation
Planned questioning of suspect, hostile witness, or the accused

18. Hostile witness
Someone who refuses to help in the investigation but has information about the crime