Types of Investigations and Police Procedures Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What must a Crown attorney prove in court?

The identity of the accused (correct)

The identity of the victim

The motive behind the offense

The location of the crime

Which of the following is NOT an objective of an investigation?

To gather all evidence, both for and against the accused

To establish grounds for arrest and laying charges

To prove the 'facts in issue'

To manipulate evidence to favor the accused (correct)

What is the purpose of using 'John and Jane Doe' in investigations?

To provide incorrect information to suspects

To identify unknown subjects or victims (correct)

To confuse the suspects

To protect the identity of victims

What is a common misconception related to tunnel vision in investigations?

It helps broaden the focus of investigations Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to prove the 'facts in issue' during an investigation?

To seek the truth and gather relevant evidence Signup and view all the answers

What should police officers do within 24 hours of making an arrest?

Bring the suspect in front of a justice of the peace Signup and view all the answers

What is the Latin term for 'guilty act', which refers to an act prohibited by law?

Actus Reus Signup and view all the answers

What type of reasoning involves theory development and observation of instances or experiments to test a hypothesis?

Inductive Reasoning Signup and view all the answers

What is the Latin term for 'guilty mind', which refers to the required degree of criminal intent?

Mens Rea Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential issue with the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) as a source of crime statistics?

It can be underrepresented Signup and view all the answers

What type of intent is typically required for the crime of unlawfully causing bodily harm or manslaughter?

General Intent Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of forming a conclusion based on the analysis of findings and event reconstruction in an investigation?

Formation of a Conclusion Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of homicides were committed by strangers?

16% Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered a person of interest in an investigation?

A person whose background, relationship to the victim or opportunity to commit the offense may warrant further inquiry Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'reasonable grounds'?

A set of facts or circumstances that, if true, would lead an ordinary, prudent and cautious individual to have a strong belief Signup and view all the answers

What are the factors that cause investigations to fail?

Unclear goals and objectives, inadequate resources, and a haphazard approach Signup and view all the answers

What are the qualities of a good investigator?

Motivation, attention to detail, common sense, good judgment, decisiveness, perseverance, sincerity, and empathy Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the victim-offender relationship in a homicide investigation?

It is important to consider the possibility that an unknown offender crime was committed by family, relatives, or an acquaintance of the victim Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a victim and a witness in a crime investigation?

A witness is a person who has relevant knowledge of events under investigation, while a victim is any person against whom a crime is committed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of gathering evidence in a crime investigation?

To gather evidence both for and against the accused Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a suspect in a crime investigation?

A person who is linked to the crime by some incriminating evidence Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a person of interest and a suspect in a crime investigation?

A person of interest is a person whose background, relationship to the victim or opportunity to commit the offense may warrant further inquiry, but no grounds exist to suggest their responsibility for the crime under investigation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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

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Description

Test your knowledge on federal law, common law, case law, and how they impact investigations. Explore deductions, the definition of investigation, facts in issue, and types of police investigations.