Criminal Investigation Chapter 6 PDF

Chapter 6 Information & Intelligence This Photo by Unkno wn Author is licensed under CC BY-NC  Reports (& records) establish a foundation for Crim. Invest.; provides corroboration of info. and reliability. (T) Records can be: Local (Ex: phone recor...

Chapter 6 Information & Intelligence This Photo by Unkno wn Author is licensed under CC BY-NC  Reports (& records) establish a foundation for Crim. Invest.; provides corroboration of info. and reliability. (T) Records can be: Local (Ex: phone records), State (Ex: DMV records) or Federal, (Ex: NCIC). Internet: extremely valuable source of info. to Investigations. COMPSTAT = COMPare STATistics - a goal-oriented, information-driven, step system that processes both operational strategy and managerial accountability. (NYPD: known for in the 1990s; made leaders responsible f/crime stats.)  Great sources of info. are obtained through neighborhood canvasses. Often, people have info. to offer but for some reason, do not step up. Door to door canvasses are sometimes forgotten due to the large amount of technical assistance available and utilized today. (T) The value of info. & leads that could be obtained through canvasses should not be forgotten or overlooked. (T) Know the following terms for test purposes… Complainant: person who requests that some action be taken. Victim: person harmed in some way by the incident. This person may be the complainant but not necessarily. Witness: person who saw a crim. act or a part of it being committed. Subject: one who is the object of a thought or being referenced to, not necessarily an actor, suspect, victim, or witness. Actor: person who committed the act. Know the following terms for test purposes… Suspect: one considered directly / indirectly connected with a crim. act by an overt act or by planning, directing, the act. (At times, obvious to determine who a suspect may be, other times, not… Important: establish that one is a suspect before treating like a suspect…) Informant: one who provides info. about a case but is not a complainant, witness, victim, or suspect. Confidential Informant: one who’s ID L/E is trying to protect and not reveal; a person formally registered and compensated by an agency for supplying info. or performing a service. (Ex: Drugs; guns…)  Confidential Informants can be great tools; very crucial with “C.I.s”: accuracy and reliability in trying to keep C.I.s unknown. (T) Important: corroborate the C.I.’s info. Know how, where, when; the circumstances under which the C.I. had obtained the info. Be able to cite previous times C.I. provided accurate/successful info…  Suspects Do not overlook Suspect as a chief source of information. Consider completing a field-interview card for any suspicious person stopped placing the subject in a specific place, at a specific time; the “Card” (computer entry) furnishes data for future invest. needs. A person w/ a known M.O. fitting a crime may be at or near the crime scene; may be showing concern for police presence, or may be at an illegal place at an illegal time—often, juveniles...  Interview and Interrogation… Interview: questioning/speaking with people as to obtain info. about incident/people involved; corroborate info., acquire new info… (T) Interviews are used w/those who are not suspects. (Best to use open- ended questions; keep from providing specific info.; “Why…?) (T) Effective Interviews: provide Elements of the Crime (Corpus Delecti) and/or leads… (T) Interviewer: adaptable, confident, culturally adroit, objective, optimistic, patient, rights-sensitive, self-controlled act-knowledgeable. (T)  Interview & Interrogation cont. (I. & I.) Interrogation (type of interview): questioning suspects’ direct/indirect involvement in a criminal act; connect how suspects are involved. (T) Use Closed-ended questions… *C___ & I___ = Miranda. (T) *Successful questioning requires 2-way communication; optimally: Be Prepared Be Considerate & Friendly (…) Be Focused Use a private setting Eliminate physical barriers Be Seated Encourage conversation Ask 1 simple ques…, Listen & Observe… Investigative Tool: Networking - personal professional contacts. (T) Communicative Emotional Barriers include “Ingrained” attitudes, fear, hostility/fear, self-preservation (agenda), being impatient; unfair… (T) Before starting an interview, try to establish a rapport (genuine interest & concern for the subject) (T) *2 basic requirements in obtaining info: Listen and Observe. (T) Reluctant subjects: appeal using their reasoning or emotions. (T) *You Tube: Zodiac movie-Interview of suspect at workplace…* Admission: contains some info. concerning elements of the crime but falls short of a full confession. (T) Confession: info. supporting elements of the crime given by a person involved in committing it. (T) A confession, oral, written (taped/typed) must be given of suspect’s free will; not in response to fear, intimidation, threats; promises or reward. (Apply same to any statement; consider paid informants… ) (T) Discuss special considerations given to children during Interview/Interrog.  Statements / Sworn Statements… Statement: legal narrative and description of events; formal, detailed account. It begins w/an intro., then, when/where conducted, as well as those conducting interview. Include educational bkgd./any language barrier info.; why? (T) Can be typed or taped; can be Victim or Witness, usually follows an interview or interviews. (Ed. bkgd., language barriers, voluntary, etc…) Suspect can provide a statement / confession; Custodial Interrogation requires Miranda. Today, major crime interviews are video-taped. (T) Be professional/courteous; thank subject (keep open-door w/susp…).  Tools (Ex: Polygraph, Voice Stress Tests) Polygraph: scientifically measures respiration and breathing depth, changes in skin’s electrical resistance; blood pressure and pulse. (T) Polygraphs used in the attempt to verify truth but not a substitute for Investigation & Questioning. Test results not admissible as evid. but any admission/confession resulting from the test, are. (T) Use polygraph to verify statements, cross-check info., develop leads. Hypnosis, Truth Serums: used in violent, memory-loss cases.  Info. vs. Intelligence Information (Info.): simply data; must have value to be useful. (T) Intelligence: Information + Analysis = Intelligence. (T) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……….. Q: Why is it important to establish a rapport and be considerate w/victims & witnesses before interviewing them in a formally? (Ex: Det. Bur. Interview / Sworn Statement; not street info. gathering.) Would the same always apply with suspect interview/interrogation?