Conducting Investigation for a Criminal - Assignment Example

Conducting Investigation for a Criminal Guidelines on conducting preliminary investigation for a criminal case The fundamental focus of conducting a preliminary investigation is ensuring to collect as much information as possible regarding the crime and the scene of crime, since there is a high likelihood that most of the petty crimes will likely be closed after the preliminary investigations (Hess, 2012). Therefore, it is important that the investigators delve deeply into the scene of crime as much as possible, since primary investigations mostly happen before the scene of crime has been interfered; making the evidence and the information collected very vital (Stelfox, 2013). Therefore, to achieve the two major objectives of collecting as much information as possible and collecting evidence while the scene of crime has not been interfered; the first step is that the investigators should rush to the scene of crime promptly, but ensure their safety while they do so (Horswell, 2004). While at the scene of crime, the primary focus of the investigators should be to offer assistance to the injured if any, and secure the scene of crime from access by the public or any unauthorized persons. This step should go hand-in-hand with arresting the criminal on the event that it is possible to trace them. This step should be followed by the careful location and identification of witnesses, followed by interviewing them as well as the victims, where the victims are still able to divulge information (Stelfox, 2013). The investigators should identify and preserve any evidence available in the scene of crime, as well as note and record all remarks and events, while also interrogating the suspects identified without any iota of suspicion. The preliminary investigators should then arrange all the information, material and evidence collected and reports them together with all the occurrences and the events accurately (Hess, 2012). After this step, the preliminary investigator should then make the necessary procedures of handing over the investigation to the follow-up investigator. Strategy for conducting an efficient follow-up investigation The primary purpose of follow-up investigation is for the criminal investigator to arrest and then apprehend the offender, through following the laid down procedures of the law (Stelfox, 2013). The fundamental aspect that delivers success in relation to the identification and arrest of the offender in any crime is information gathering. Therefore, it is the duty of the follow-up investigator to systematically assess the evidence and other materials presented from the preliminary investigations, and then delve deeply into information gathering and analysis that would give the accurate leads (Hess, 2012). In this respect, the follow-up investigator should use both the evidence and the subsequent information gathered from testimonials and other interviews from individuals related to the scene of crime or the relatives of the victims and the suspects, to arrive at a conclusive decision. The crime investigator should carefully document information related to the time of arrival or assignment to the investigation, as well as information regarding the geography and climate of the scene of crime, when it is essential for the investigation (Horswell, 2004). Further, the investigator should record the condition of the scene of crime on arrival, the approximation of the time the crime was committed and when and who discovered and reported the crime. The date, time and location of all interviews and interrogations should be documented, as well as the names of all the witnesses, victims, suspects and accessory information sources, addresses and contact details. Briefs of what the victims and witnesses saw and heard should also be accurately documented (Horswell, 2004). The record should also carry the document of the exact and specific details of the characteristics of the suspects or the identified offender, especially when such characteristics are unique or unusual (Stelfox, 2013). The detailed sketch and measurements of the scene of crime should be recorded as well as any list of identifiable valuables lost or found on the scene of crime should also be noted. This should be followed by pursuing the important leads, through sharing and collaborating information with the relevant offices. Finally, all these information should be analyzed carefully for potential leads to the suspects/offenders (Hess, 2012). Key differences in reporting the sex crimes vs. sudden death crimes The Key differences in reporting the sex crimes and sudden death crimes emanates from the fact that; the sudden death case may present two major possibilities; namely homicide or murder, while the sex crimes provides a single line of focus that is sexual abuse (Geberth, 2010). The other difference in the investigation of these two crimes is that sexual crime may overlap the sudden death crime, considering the fact that there could be attempts to hide a sexual crime through murder, making a sex crime translate into a murder crime, while the reverse does not apply (Geberth, 2010). Another key difference in the reporting of a sexual crime and that of a sudden death is the presence of the victim, who might be able to give important information under the sex crime case, while in sudden death; the victim cannot be relied to give meaningful information, since they are already dead. However, this is applicable under circumstances where the victim of sex crime was not killed, fatally injured or otherwise incapacitated and thus can be available to give information. Further, a key difference in reporting sex crime compared to sudden death crime is that under sex crime, it is easy to identify the lead to the suspected offender, since in most cases DNA test is possible, which may give reliable evidence, as opposed to the sudden death crime where DNA evidence may not be too common (Geberth, 2010). Most important characteristics of an effective criminal investigator Keen sense of curiosity A good investigator must be an individual who has an acute sense of curiosity, which then leads the investigator to question and enquire in greater lengths, which are far beyond the ordinary inquiry (Stelfox, 2013). It is such an inquisitive character that helps the investigator to gather information that might seem unrelated to the crime, yet might be necessary for tracing either the history or the development of the crime story, thus creating important leads. Analytical mind A good investigator must have an analytical mind (Hess, 2012). The analytical mind is very important, since crime investigation requires that the investigator be very patient to follow all possible leads and investigate every single detail that might appear small to the common eye, while also putting into consideration every piece of evidence that is potentially useful. The complexity of crime investigation emanates from the fact that the clues to the potential leads are not always obvious, and thus requires a keen analytical mind to unravel the mystery often created by the criminals hiding the evidence (Horswell, 2004). Emotional stability The investigation of crime sometimes entails some very emotional incidences that may interfere with the diligence of the person investigating the case, if they are not emotionally strong (Stelfox, 2013). Therefore, emotional stability helps to ensure that the crime investigator can still continue investigating the case without being interfered by the emotions arising from such crime incidences. References Geberth, V. J. (2010). Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives, Second Edition. CRC Press. Hess, C. (2012). Criminal Investigation. Cengage Learning. Horswell, J. (2004).The Practice of Crime Scene Investigation. CRC Press. Stelfox, P. (2013). Criminal Investigation: An Introduction to Principles and Practice. Routeledge. Read More