Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation

FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
1. LIST THE OBJECTIVES OF AN INTERROGATION.
 to obtain valuable facts

 to eliminate the innocent
 to identify the guilty
 to obtain a confession
2. DEFINE AN ADMISSION AND A STATEMENT
 An admission in the law of evidence is a prior statement by an adverse party which can be admitted into

evidence over a hearsay objection. In general, admissions are admissible in criminal and civil case.
At common law, admissions were admissible. A statement could only be excluded by a showing of
involuntariness, unfairness, or that the circumstances under which the statement was obtained was improper
or illegal.
3. WHAT IS THE MIRANDA ADMONITION AND WHEN IT IS REQUIRED.
The Miranda warning (from the U.S. Supreme Court's Miranda v. Arizona decision), requires that officers let you know
of certain facts after your arrest, before questioning you. An officer who is going to interrogate you must convey to you
that:
 You have the right to remain silent.

 If you do say anything, it can be used against you in a court of law.
 You have the right to have a lawyer present during any questioning.
 If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire
WHEN IT IS REQUIRED?
It doesn't matter whether an interrogation occurs in a jail, at the scene of a crime, on a busy downtown street, or the
middle of an open field: If a person is in custody (deprived of his or her freedom of action in any significant way), the
police must read the Miranda rights if they want to ask questions and use the answers as evidence at trial.
4. DISCUSS THE DUTIES OF THE FIRST OFFICER AT CRIME SCENE?
The MOST important task for the police officer first at a scene is to prevent the destruction or diminished value of potential
evidence. This evidence will (hopefully) lead to the apprehension of the criminal responsible for the crime.
The officer should record the time and enter the crime scene properly.
5. EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISOLATION AND PROTECTION OF A CRIME SCENE.
 The most important aspect of evidence collection and preservation is protecting the crime scene. This is to
keep the pertinent evidence uncontaminated until it can be recorded and collected. The successful
prosecution of a case can hinge on the state of the physical evidence at the time it is collected. The
protection of the scene begins with the arrival of the first police officer at the scene and ends when the
scene is released from police custody.
6. WHAT ARE THE TRADITIONAL SEARCH METHODS FOR CRIME SCENES? DEFINE EACH.
POINT TO POINT
 Movement following a chain of objectives which are obvious evidence
SPIRAL SEARCH
 carried out by a single person involves the searcher walking in a circular fashion from the outer point of the
crime scene towards the central point DO NOT START IN CENTRE AS EVIDENCE MAY BE DESTROYED
ZONE METHOD
entire scene is divided into zones that are searched individually best for searching for a small object
STRIP METHOD
 area is divided into strips about 1 meter wide. the searcher examines each strip separately. best for outdoor
area
GRID SEARCHING
 advance on the strip method searchers complete the strip method and double back across the area being
searched
SEARCHING INDOORS
 walls and ceilings should be examined beat to work from top downwards critical evidence may be found in
the least obvious places
7. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CRIME SCENE WALK THROUGH?

 The purpose of the walk through is to note the location of potential evidence and to mentally outline how
the scene will be examined. The walk through begins as close to the point of entry as possible. The first
place the investigators should examine is the ground on which they are about to tread.
8. EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE OF CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY?

 The purpose of crime scene photography is to provide a true and accurate record of the crime scene and
physical evidence present by recording the original scene and related areas. Forensic photography is an
integral part of trial.
9. BASIC TECHNIQUES FOR DSCOVERING AND PRESERVING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT THE CRIME SCENE.
 If at all possible, take the entire bloodstained object back to the crime lab for analysis. In some cases, this is
not possible, so care must be taken to ensure that the sample is not compromised or damaged in any way.
Before handling, the location of the bloodstained object must be noted and photographs taken. Again, never
package fresh, wet or damp blood in airtight containers
10. DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE IN A CASE. GIVE EXAMPLES.

 Physical evidence can include anything from objects, like the murder weapon, to blood splatter, DNA, and
even fingerprints. Although you cannot hold fingerprints, they still can be pulled off a wall and turned into
physical evidence for the jury and legal representation to review. This evidence is then used to present cases
for or against a defendant, as long as the evidence has been approved by the judge.
 The NIJ offers numerous examples of physical evidence that can be recovered at a crime scene,
such as sweat, skin, hair, blood, saliva, and even body tissue.
11. GIVE EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AND EXPLAIN WHY SOME REQUIRE SPECIAL ATTENTION.
 The NIJ offers numerous examples of physical evidence that can be recovered at a crime scene,
such as sweat, skin, hair, blood, saliva, and even body tissue. In addition to these examples, there
may be other types of physical evidence left such as footprints.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

1. LIST THE OBJECTIVES OF AN INTERROGATION.

 to obtain valuable facts

2. DEFINE AN ADMISSION AND A STATEMENT

 An admission in the law of evidence is a prior statement by an adverse party which can be admitted into

3. WHAT IS THE MIRANDA ADMONITION AND WHEN IT IS REQUIRED.

 You have the right to remain silent.

4. DISCUSS THE DUTIES OF THE FIRST OFFICER AT CRIME SCENE?

5. EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISOLATION AND PROTECTION OF A CRIME SCENE.

7. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CRIME SCENE WALK THROUGH?

8. EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE OF CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY?

10. DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE IN A CASE. GIVE EXAMPLES.

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