5W and 1H Quiz on Cardinal Points of Investigation

Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of 'Why' questions in criminal investigation?

To determine the means or tools employed in committing the crime

To ascertain the motives, causes, and background occurrences that led to the offense (correct)

To present evidence of guilt in court

To locate and apprehend the accused

What is the Golden Rule in criminal investigation?

Never release information about the crime to the media

Always work alone during an investigation

Always assume the suspect is guilty

Never touch, alter, move, or transfer any object at the crime scene unless it is properly marked, measured, sketched, and/or photographed (correct)

What is the role of a criminal investigator during an investigation?

To use discretion and make wise judgments throughout the investigation (correct)

To make an arrest without proper evidence

To solely focus on collecting evidence

To only present evidence that proves the suspect's innocence

What type of questions are used to determine how a crime was committed?

How questions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of a criminal investigator?

To carry out the objectives of criminal investigation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of asking 'What' questions during an investigation?

To find out what happened or what took place before, during, and immediately after the commission of the offense Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of question used in the 5W's and 1H framework?

How much Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of asking 'Where' questions during an investigation?

To localize the place of the incident Signup and view all the answers

What type of question is 'What are the pieces of evidence discovered at the crime scene?'

What question Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of asking 'When' questions during an investigation?

To determine the time, day, month, and year when the crime was committed Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cardinal Points of Investigation

The six cardinal points of investigation consist of 5W's (Who, What, Where, When, Why) and 1H (How).

Who Questions

Identify the victims or offended parties, suspects, accomplices, accessories, and witnesses.
Examples of who questions:
- Who reported the crime?
- Who discovered the crime?
- Who saw how the crime was perpetrated?
- Who is the victim?
- Who had a misunderstanding with the victim?

What Questions

Determine what happened before, during, and after the crime.
Examples of what questions:
- What happened?
- What specific actions did the suspect, victim, or witness take?
- What is the nature of the crime?
- What weapons or tools were used by the culprit?
- What pieces of evidence were discovered at the crime scene?

Where Questions

Localize the place of the incident, including the city, district, street, and house or building number.
Examples of where questions:
- Where did the crime occur?
- Where are the victims, witnesses, or culprits?
- Where do the victims, witnesses, or culprits live?
- Where was the suspect when apprehended?
- Where were the weapons or tools used in the crime?

When Questions

Determine the time, day, month, and year of the crime.
Examples of when questions:
- When was the crime committed?
- When was it discovered?
- When was the police notified?
- When was the victim last seen?
- When was the suspect arrested?

Why Questions

Ascertain the motives, causes, and antecedents of the crime.
Examples of why questions:
- Why did the offender commit the crime?
- Why didn't the suspect surrender?
- Why did the victim not report the crime?

How Questions

Determine how the crime was committed and how the culprits entered the building or room.
Examples of how questions:
- How did the suspect get near the victim?
- How did the criminal perform the crime?
- How did the criminal get away from the crime scene?
- How was the crime scene search conducted?

Golden Rule in Criminal Investigation

Never touch, alter, move, or transfer any object at the crime scene unless it is properly marked, measured, sketched, and/or photographed.

Role of a Criminal Investigator

A criminal investigator is a trained, disciplined, and experienced law enforcement officer who conducts criminal investigations.
Roles of an investigator:
- Determine if a crime has been committed
- Identify the victim and offender
- Locate and apprehend the accused
- Present evidence of guilt