Types of Investigations and Police Procedures Quiz

Types of Law

• Federal law, Common law, and Case law are essential for an investigator.

Investigation

• An investigation is an official examination into the circumstances of an event, incident, or situation.
• It may reveal that no actual event or wrongdoing ever occurred.
• The objective is to seek the truth, gathering all evidence and relevant information using lawful methods.

Facts in Issue

• Who, what, where, when, and how are the elements of an offense.
• Facts in issue are found in the relevant section of statute law.

Types of Police Investigations

• Known or alleged violation of statute law
• Planned (information received from an informant about a crime)
• Intended crime (e.g., suspicious vehicle parked in front of an empty house)
• Proactive (being productive to prevent crimes)
• Reactive investigations (reacting to a specific crime that has happened)

Identity of Involved Offender(s)

• Identity can be proven through name, date of birth, address, driver's license, physical appearance, and social media.
• John and Jane Doe are commonly used when the names of subjects or victims are unknown.

Crown Attorney's Role

• The Crown attorney must prove the identity of the accused in court.
• Establish grounds upon which to effect arrest, lay charge(s), or further the investigation.

Tunnel Vision

• Definition: A single-minded and overly narrow focus on a particular investigative or prosecutorial theory.
• Cure: Have an open mind, and consider every point of view.

Mens Rea and Actus Reus

• Mens Rea: L. = guilty mind, required degree of criminal intent.
• Actus Reus: L. = guilty act, an act prohibited by law.

Investigative Process

• Gathering of Information: Take statements, identify the suspect, and collect evidence.
• Reconstruction of Events: Analyze findings and form a conclusion.
• Inductive vs. deductive reasoning:
  • Inductive Reasoning: Involves theory development and observation.
  • Deductive Reasoning: Involves logical inference, event reconstruction, and application of forensic science.

Motives for Crimes

• Greed / Gain: Theft, robbery, arson, fraud, murder, kidnapping, drug-trafficking, etc.
• Revenge: Assault, murder, threatening, mischief to property, etc.
• Sex: Sexual assault, child sexual offenses, trespassing by night, etc.
• Mental Disorder: Apparently motiveless crimes

Categories of Crimes

• Known Offender Crimes: More common and easier to investigate.
• Unknown Offender Crimes: More difficult to investigate.

Victim-Offender Relationship

• 84% of homicides were committed by acquaintances of the victim.
• 45% of homicides were committed by family members and relatives.
• 16% of homicides were committed by strangers.

Elimination of Persons of Interest

• Statistical probability suggests initial investigation should focus on those closest to the victim or scene.
• Eliminate family, relatives, acquaintances, and strangers simultaneously.

Victims and Witnesses

• Victim: Any person against whom a crime is committed.
• Witness: Any person who has relevant knowledge of events under investigation.
• All victims are witnesses, but not vice-versa.

Persons of Interest and Suspects

• Person of Interest: A person whose background, relationship, or opportunity to commit the offense warrants further inquiry.
• Suspect: A person linked to the crime by some incriminating evidence.

Reasonable Grounds

• Defined: A set of facts or circumstances that, if true, would lead an ordinary, prudent, and cautious individual to have a strong belief.
• Reasonable Grounds: Subjective Belief (officer's mind) and Objective Belief (independent person).

Factors that Cause Investigations to Fail

• Unclear goals and objectives
• Inadequate resources
• Unclear or non-existent chain of command
• Haphazard approach
• Failure to follow-up leads
• Failure to exhaust all avenues of investigation
• Terminating investigation before objectives achieved

Requirements of an Investigator

• Knowledge of statute and case law
• Knowledge of investigative techniques and best practices
• Training and experience
• Ability to apply law and investigative methodology
• Correct technique(s) in the correct sequence to achieve the highest probability of success

Qualities of an Investigator

• Motivation
• Attention to detail
• Common sense and good judgment
• Decisiveness
• Perseverance
• Sincerity
• Empathy