78 Questions
What is the primary focus of training for the entrant officer in criminal investigations?
To have a 'call to court philosophy' as the final investigator
What is the purpose of a neighborhood canvass?
To gather information from witnesses and residents in the area
When does the preliminary investigation of a crime begin?
When the crime is reported to the police
What is the purpose of the Missouri Crime Victims' Compensation Fund?
To compensate victims of crime
What is the primary objective of a successful criminal investigation?
To ensure that justice is served
What is the importance of having a complete flash description?
To provide a detailed description of the suspect
What is the purpose of recording certain suspect criminal interrogations?
To ensure that the suspect's rights are protected
What is the benefit of having a more thorough and complete investigation?
To provide a more comprehensive report to the investigator division
What is one of the purposes of additional uniform personnel in a criminal investigation?
Scene or perimeter security
What type of resource is a 'good citizen' an example of?
Regular source
What is the main difference between interrogation and interviewing?
Interrogation involves questioning reluctant individuals, while interviewing involves questioning cooperative individuals
What is the primary function of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children?
To serve as a national clearinghouse for information related to missing children
What is the purpose of the State Technical Assistance Team (STAT)?
To facilitate cooperation and coordination among professional organizations
What type of resource is a crime scene investigator an example of?
Investigator
What is a primary objective of a successful criminal investigation?
To determine if a crime has been committed
What is one of the tasks that Major Case Squads are specialized in?
New and advanced computer and cellular telephone systems
What is the purpose of conducting a neighborhood canvass during a preliminary investigation?
To locate and identify witnesses
What is the main purpose of requesting additional resources and equipment in a criminal investigation?
To respond to the needs of the investigation as they arise
What should be done when arriving at the crime scene?
Proceed to the scene quickly and safely
What is the primary goal of maintaining the crime scene and preserving evidence?
To prevent contamination of the crime scene
What type of resource is a 'paid informant' an example of?
Cultivated source
What is the primary goal of the 'three I's' in a criminal investigation?
To gather information, conduct interrogations, and use instrumentation
Why is it important to interview witnesses and victims first during a preliminary investigation?
To evaluate the truthfulness of the suspect
What is the purpose of note-taking during a preliminary investigation?
To write a complete and accurate report of the events
Why is it important to conduct a scene inspection during a criminal investigation?
To gather and preserve evidence
What should be done when a hazardous material is found at the crime scene?
Handle the situation cautiously
Why is it essential to secure the crime scene during a preliminary investigation?
To prevent contamination of the crime scene
What is the primary goal of identifying and apprehending the offender during a criminal investigation?
To ensure justice is served
What is the primary goal of STAT?
To encourage communities to identify and address problems often avoided
What is the main purpose of the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (MOICAC)?
To prevent different types of crimes that take place online
What is the function of a Crime Scene Investigator?
To locate, handle, collect, process, and package physical evidence
What is the purpose of a Forensic Anthropologist?
To apply techniques that can be used to assist in the recovery of remains, assess age, gender, stature, ancestry, and race
What is the ultimate objective of a criminal investigation?
To present physical evidence and the suspect in a court of law
What is the primary responsibility of the first officer at the scene of a crime?
To initiate the preliminary investigation
What is the main function of a Forensic Odontologist?
To apply dental applications in legal proceedings for individual identification, mass identification, and bite mark analysis
What is the primary role of a Medical Examiner, Coroner, or Forensic Pathologist?
To be discussed completely in death investigation section
What is the purpose of a BOLO (Be on the Lookout) broadcast?
To inform other officers of a suspect's description
What is the first step in the preliminary investigation?
Proceeding to the scene promptly and safely
When does the preliminary investigation of a crime begin?
When an officer is assigned to the call
What is the primary goal of the first officer at a crime scene?
To make or break a case depending on their response and actions
Who is responsible for initiating the preliminary investigation?
The first officer to arrive on the scene
What type of evidence is extremely delicate and easily compromised or destroyed?
Electronic evidence
What is included in a BOLO description?
The physical descriptors of the suspects, including race, gender, age, and height
Who is responsible for the preliminary investigation until relieved by someone of higher rank or authority?
The first officer at the scene
What is the purpose of the AMBER Alert?
To broadcast missing children and suspect information across all media resources
What is the purpose of the preliminary investigation?
To determine the course of the investigation
What is the importance of the first officer's actions at a crime scene?
To determine the success or failure of the investigation
What is included in the PRELIM procedural steps?
Proceed to the scene promptly and safely, Render assistance, Effect the arrest, Locate and Identify witnesses
Who can apply for compensation under the Missouri program?
A Missouri resident injured in another state without a crime victims' compensation program
What is the purpose of the Safe at Home program?
To provide a mail forwarding service for survivors of domestic violence
What is required of officers when dealing with individuals in the Safe at Home program?
They must accept the address provided by the individual
Why must an officer's untruthfulness be disclosed to the prosecuting attorney?
To impeach the officer's testimony
What is the first priority when arriving at the scene of a crime?
Giving aid to injured persons
Why should movement of evidence be avoided?
To fully examine and process evidence
What is the purpose of roping off certain areas at a crime scene?
To protect the crime scene
What should be done with objects that seem to have evidence potential in extreme cases?
Move them to a safe location
What should officers do simultaneously with giving aid to injured persons at a crime scene?
Post guards to control spectators
What is the purpose of posting guards at a crime scene?
To control spectators
What is the primary purpose of a neighborhood canvass?
To identify witnesses who may have knowledge of the crime.
What is the CYMBOL method used for?
To describe the characteristics of a vehicle.
When is a neighborhood canvass usually conducted?
When persons live or work in close proximity to the crime scene.
What information should officers obtain during a neighborhood canvass?
Name, identification, address, and phone number of individuals contacted.
What is the purpose of recording certain suspect criminal interrogations?
To gather evidence against the suspect.
Which of the following is a requirement for recording certain suspect criminal interrogations?
The interrogation must be conducted in the state of Missouri.
What is the primary purpose of the Missouri Crime Victims' Compensation Fund?
To reimburse crime victims for certain financial losses.
Who is eligible for compensation under the Missouri Crime Victims' Compensation Fund?
Victims of violent crimes and their relatives.
What is the requirement for an individual to be eligible for compensation under the Missouri Crime Victims' Compensation Fund?
The individual must have suffered personal bodily injury.
What should officers do with individuals who claim to have no knowledge of the crime?
Take a statement from them, including their name, address, and phone number.
What is the primary objective of preserving the crime scene?
To preserve its physical aspects for review by the detective or laboratory examiners
Why is it important to take precautions when walking around the crime scene?
To avoid damaging potential evidence
What information should be noted as soon as time permits at the crime scene?
All of the above
What is the first step in the Missouri Amber Alert System?
An abduction has occurred which justifies the issuance of an AMBER Alert
What is the purpose of the Missouri Amber Alert System?
To help locate a missing person in a timely manner
When should the crime scene be released?
When the investigator in charge has specifically released the crime scene
What should be avoided when handling evidence at the crime scene?
All of the above
What is the purpose of the local abduction alert system?
To help locate a missing person in a timely manner
What is the fourth step in the Missouri Amber Alert System?
Fill out the Missouri Amber Alert abduction form
Why is it important to have a local abduction alert system?
To help locate a missing person in a timely manner
Study Notes
Introduction to Basic Investigation
- The primary objectives of a successful criminal investigation:
- Determine if a crime has been committed
- Identify and apprehend the offender
- Gather and preserve evidence
- Recover stolen property
- The key element to a successful prosecution is a complete and professional investigation
Crime Scene Investigation
- Proper crime scene response procedures:
- Proceed to the scene quickly and safely
- Perform a protective sweep of the crime scene upon arrival
- Handle emergency situations (injuries, medical emergencies, dangerous conditions, hazardous materials)
- Secure the scene
- Request additional resources and equipment as needed
- Crime scene investigation objectives:
- Locate and identify witnesses
- Conduct a neighborhood canvass
- Interview the complainant and witnesses
- Maintain the crime scene and preserve evidence
- Interrogate the suspect
- Note all conditions, events, and remarks
Resources Available to an Investigator
- The three 'I's:
- Information: knowledge gathered from other persons (regular sources, cultivated sources)
- Interrogation: skillful questioning of suspects and uncooperative witnesses
- Instrumentation: application of instruments and methods of physical science to the detection of crime (fingerprint systems, polygraph, communications systems, surveillance equipment)
- Investigative resources:
- Major Case Squads
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- STAT-State Technical Assistance Team
- MIAC - Missouri Information Analysis Center
- AMBER Alert
- Cyber Crimes Task Forces
- Legal Resources (prosecuting attorney's office)
- Physical evidence (crime scene investigators, crime laboratories, forensic specialists, electronic evidence)
- Medical Examiner, Coroner, Forensic Pathologist
Preliminary Investigation
- The preliminary investigation begins when an officer is assigned to the call
- The first officer to arrive on the scene has the responsibility of initiating the preliminary investigation
- Steps to consider during the preliminary investigation:
- Proceed to the scene promptly and safely
- Render assistance to the injured
- Effect the arrest of the individual
- Locate and identify witnesses
- Interview the complainant and witnesses
- Maintain the crime scene and protect the evidence
- Interrogate the suspect
- Note all conditions, events, and remarks
Flash Description
- A "BOLO" (Be on the Lookout) is a flash description of a suspect's physical description and/or vehicle information
- Components of a flash description:
- Type of crime
- Number of suspects involved
- Physical descriptors of the suspects
- Vehicle description (CYMBOL Method: Color, Year, Make, Body, Occupants, License)
Neighborhood Canvass
- The process of searching for additional witnesses or information sources who at the time may not be readily apparent
- Characteristics and purpose of a neighborhood canvass:
- To locate individuals in the area who might have knowledge of the crime
- To locate any evidence that was disregarded or lost as the suspect(s) fled the scene
- Report should be written detailing information gathered during the canvass
Recording Suspect Interrogations
- Requirements for recording certain suspect criminal interrogations:
- All custodial interrogations of persons suspected of committing or attempting to commit certain criminal offenses shall be recorded when feasible
- Recordings can be in any format (audiotape, videotape, digital recording)
- Interrogations required to be recorded include murder in the first degree and other specified crimes### Crimes and Punishments
- Crimes punishable by law in Missouri include:
- Murder in the second degree
- Assault in the first degree
- Assault of a law enforcement officer in the second degree
- Domestic assault in the first degree
- Elder abuse in the first degree
- Robbery in the first degree
- Arson in the first degree
- Forcible rape
- Forcible sodomy
- Kidnapping
- Statutory rape in the first degree
- Statutory sodomy in the first degree
- Child abuse
- Child kidnapping
Interrogations and Recordings
- Interrogations may be recorded with or without the suspect's knowledge or consent
- Exceptions to recording interrogations include:
- Suspect requests no recording
- Interrogation occurs outside Missouri
- Exigent public safety circumstances prevent recording
- Spontaneous statements by the suspect
- Recording equipment fails or is not available
Missouri Crime Victims' Compensation Fund
- Purpose: reimburse certain crime victims for financial losses
- Eligibility requirements:
- Victim of a violent crime with personal bodily injury
- Relative of a sexual assault victim needing counseling
- Victim who died as a direct result of a crime, with spouse, child, or dependent assuming financial obligations
- Missouri resident who suffered personal injury while in another state without a crime victims' compensation program
- Applications can be obtained from the Crime Victims' Compensation Program
Safe at Home Program
- Purpose: helps survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, or stalking by concealing their new location
- Services:
- Provides a designated address for creating new records with state and local agencies and the court
- Limits a suspect's ability to access public information to identify the new location
- Not a witness protection program, but a mail forwarding service
- Participants can keep their location confidential on new records, including:
- Department of Revenue (driver's license, non-driver's license, vehicle registration)
- Voter registration
- School records
- Department of Social Services
- Library cards
- Court, City, and County records
Officer Testimony
- Factors that could cause an officer to be unable or ineffective to provide testimony:
- Providing untruthful/false information in an official investigation, report, or court proceeding
- Conclusive information regarding untruthfulness, bias, and crimes committed by an officer
- Failure to disclose untruthfulness to the prosecuting attorney
- Termination from the agency due to untruthfulness
Initial Actions at the Scene of a Crime
- Success of the investigation depends on initial observations and actions of the first officer to arrive
- Priority is to:
- Give aid to injured persons
- Protect the crime scene by roping off areas, posting guards, and covering areas that could be affected by the elements
- Avoid moving objects that may contain evidence, unless necessary to prevent destruction
- Important to note:
- Unnecessary walking about
- Moving items or disturbing the bodies of deceased persons
- Touching items or surfaces that may yield latent fingerprints
- Allowing items to be removed from the scene without permission
Missouri Amber Alert System
- Purpose: to quickly disseminate information to the public to aid in the recovery of abducted children
- Criteria for activation:
- Abduction has occurred, and the victim is reasonably believed to be a victim of kidnapping
- There is a credible threat of serious bodily injury or death to the victim
- Sufficient details are available to make a public alert useful
- A regional or statewide alert would be most beneficial for the situation
- Steps to activate the Missouri Amber Alert System:
- Verify the abduction meets the criteria
- Activate the local abduction alert system
- Verify the more stringent Missouri Amber Alert criteria have been met
- Fill out the Missouri Amber Alert abduction form
This quiz introduces the basic principles of criminal investigation, including the objectives and scope of conducting investigations by law enforcement personnel.
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