Western Australia Crime and Forensic Investigation Model - Essay Example

Western Australia Crime and Forensic Investigation Model Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Date Introduction Western Australia Police handle the largest single police jurisdiction globally. They are responsible for the region's security and safety thus playing a central role in maintaining the safety of the individuals in Western Australia (WA Police, 2014). As a strategy of accomplishing their objective, WA Police ensures the availability of its personnel at the right time and place. Moreover, it ascertains that the police take the right actions towards handling crime scene and forensic investigations so as to guarantee the apprehension of the criminals. Forensic Science has turned out to be an important tool in police criminal investigations thereby necessitating its use in the WA Police Department. The Police Department uses the technology to improve their response to and detection of criminal activities in the region (CSC, 2011). Having substantial momentum from the court, the WA Police Department decided to implement the most up-to-date Forensic Science technologies so as to enhance its performance (Western Australia Police, 2010). The essay provides a critical discussion of the WA Police model for crime scene and forensic investigation in relation to its utility of sworn police officers as investigators. The Western Australia Police Forensics Unit Apparently, the South of Perth is the region that encounters the highest cases of burglary in the entire Western Australia. In the WA Police, the SOCO is the department that is responsible for the forensic investigations of a burglary scene in the event of its occurrence within the region. In order to enhance their efficiency, the SOCO staff maximize their time while on an investigation mission by assigning different tasks using computers in their vehicles. They use sworn police officers to take photographs soon after arriving at a crime scene thus portraying them as pertinent members of the investigation team. The chances of forensic recovery and geography are the two major factors that the members of the team consider while on their investigation missions. While on their missions, they concentrate on fingerprint and DNA evidence. The first step involved in the gathering of fingerprint evidence entails taking photographs of the fingerprints followed by the inclusion of the photos in the general pictures of the crime scene (Williams, 2014). Therefore, it is worth noting that the initial activities of the sworn police investigators result in a better forensic investigation as compared to situations where the police and the investigators operate differently. The activities indicate the dedication of the sworn police towards crime and forensic investigations vividly since they are the first individuals to arrive at a crime scene. In order for the team to recover the photographs, the SOCO members concentrate on the curve or texture of the photographs to determine whether they can serve as a secondary exhibit for the crime scene investigation. In order to obtain the fastest results possible from the investigation, the SOCO team uploads the fingerprint photographs to the criminal database upon identifying them as a potential secondary exhibit for the crime. Since the SOCO members cannot recover photos and other evidence on a routine basis from the crime scene, uploading the photographs into the criminal database upon realizing that they are a potential exhibit reduces the time required to analyse the fingerprints thus commence the search for the criminals. Ever since the WA Police decided to utilise the system, there has been a significant reduction in the time and costs associated with recovering the fingerprints used as evidence following a crime scene investigation. Initially, the SOCO scanned fingerprints on the recovered marks rather than the photographed ones as is the case in the UK and other regions. However, the need to enhance the efficiency of the investigation’s processes compelled the WA Police to concentrate on analysing the photographed marks uploaded in the criminal database soon after the arrival of the investigators at the crime scene. Training the sworn police to take photographs of evidentiary information portrays them as beneficial members of the investigation team. Consequently, it takes a little time and financial resources for the forensic experts to analyse the photographs to target the suspects. As a strategy for enhancing the results, the training of the forensic experts also concentrates on photographed marks rather than recovered ones. Subsequently, the first task of the sworn police entails taking the photographs of the potential evidence at the crime scene so as to prevent the threat of tampered evidence as would have been the case when the police would have to await independent investigators. The utility of the fingerprint computer system technology does not necessitate taking precise photographs (Western Australia Police Frontline 2020). The system allows the investigators to adjust the mark’s size thus enabling them to search the fingerprint on the national database. The forensics division also contains the DNA and blood screening unit besides the fingerprint unit (Williams, 2014). The department has also installed hi-tech units in the blood screening unit to enhance the results of the department. For instance, they have introduced the infra-red facility in the blood screening unit to search for blood on patterned or dark clothing (Williams, 2014). The Model for Forensic Investigation The District Forensic Investigation Officer is the individual at the helm of forensic investigation departments in all the districts of Western Australia. The individual handles the provision of an initial investigation response in the event of a criminal activity. The provision of the investigation response adopts the RECAR (Response, Examination, Collection, Analysis and Resolution) model. The response consists of both the major crime and its volume. It also enlists non-crime related events witnessed following the occurrence of the crime (WA Police, 2010). The coordination of the officers that engage in the provision of frontline forensic activity is a responsibility of the Forensic Division. The frontline forensic activities include recruitment, training and development, management of the skill-set, deployment, standardisation, quality control and the management of results. The Forensic Districts are responsible for the deployment of the frontline forensic officers to their daily activities. There are six major steps that the WA Police follow in the investigation of a crime. Crime Scene Stage The stage entails the initial assessment of the crime, the collection and preservation of evidence and the determination of additional scenes that bear paramount significance to the investigation process. Most of the collection of evidence is a responsibility of the sworn police as they strive to reduce the time required to conduct the investigation. Apparently, the crime scene and the existing evidentiary contents of the scene suffice to be the primary area of focus for the police following the occurrence of a criminal incident. The first few minutes after the occurrence of a crime determine whether the investigation process will be successful or not (Goldsworthy, 2009). It is the role of the first officer of the WA Police to protect and preserve the crime scene immediately after arriving. The forensic investigator instructs the other police on site to protect the site until the arrival of the other individuals of the forensic team. Firstly, they separate the area from other unwanted police officers and the general public that may interfere with the evidence. Since the investigator handles the presentation of proof to the court, the forensic investigators control the entire crime scene. The investigators also strive to identify secondary crime scenes that may provide the required evidentiary information. The Initial Assessment Stage The WA Police Forensic Division uses trained investigators to take control of the crime scene and identify potential witnesses. The sworn police also take part in the activities of the stage due to the additional investigation training that they receive from the Western Australia Police Academy. The existing physical evidence is the primary focus of the investigators. It enables them to identify the potential criminals (Horswell, 2004). For instance, identifying suspected DNA samples at the crime scene is significant evidence. In the case of victims that are still alive, the investigators familiarise themselves with the victims at this stage. In the case of deceased victims, the investigators compile a profile about the victims enlisting his/her history, the victim’s financial and family records, criminal links and associates. The investigators utilise the information in the profile to identify links to the suspects. The next step of the investigators entails generating the possible suspects based on the collected evidentiary information. Investigation Stage Apparently, the investigation stage signals the onset of the challenge of the entire crime investigation process. The investigators use signature behaviours and establish motives to narrow down the pool of suspects (Swanson et al. 2000). Signature behaviours also enable the investigators to identify serial offenders in other crimes. If the investigators fail to identify the signature behaviours, they prioritise the suspects based on the available evidence. The investigators also assess the witness accounts from the witnesses to determine their contribution towards identifying the suspects. The WA Police use trained experts to evaluate the existing evidence and all the other aspects that require re-investigation at the crime scene. However, the WA Police uses the feedback loop to re-investigate the crimes. They also determine the victim’s timeline within the last 24 hours and beyond to understand his/her movements and motives. The Target Stage In the stage, the investigators concentrate on generating and narrowing down on the suspects from the gathered evidentiary information (Bennett, 2000). They determine the potential connections between the crime and the suspects and the associated link between the suspect and the victim with respect to the motive, time and place. During the stage, the investigators usually have a substantial amount of information regarding the crime to enable the identification of the suspects. The Arrest Stage Following the identification of the suspect in the target stage, the investigators decide whether it is appropriate to take an affirmative action against them or not. Some of the actions encompass questioning the suspects, spying on them or using an arrest warrant to arrest them (Goldsworthy, 2009). However, the proper course of action depends on the strength of the available evidence. The investigators may postpone their actions following the emergence of new evidence regarding the crime (Homel et al. 1997; Horswell, 2004). In such cases, the investigators re-investigate the evidence since it may provide a link to other suspects. To guarantee professionalism and the use of efficient services, the WA Police investigators concentrate on evidentiary information to eliminate the possible chance of convicting suspected criminals wrongfully. Analysis and Discussion Advantages of using sworn police officers as investigators The use of sworn police officers has been beneficial to the Western Australia Police in some ways. In most cases, the police are the first government agents that arrive at the crime scene. Training the sworn police with the required initial assessment techniques such as taking photographs enables them to obtain first-hand evidentiary information at the crime scene before the general public can interfere with such information. In the long-run, the other specialised investigators can target the correct suspects because of the available evidence collected by the sworn police. Retention has also emerged as a concern in the WA Police. Apparently, retaining civilian investigators is difficult as compared to keeping the sworn police officers. According to Forst (2000), most of the sworn police officers work for the Police Department until they attain the required retirement age. However, civilian crime and forensic investigators are always on the lookout for employment opportunities that promise better results. The ability of the WA Police to retain the sworn police also reduces the costs associated with maintaining the professionals. Apparently, it is costly to train civilian personnel in crime and forensic investigation then fail to retain them in the Police Department. The case is different for the sworn police officers since they operate under their retirement schemes. Consequently, training them is a guarantee that they will serve the public in their investigative roles until the expiry of their contract with the WA Police. Therefore, it is evident that retaining civilian crime and forensic investigators is more costly as compared to training sworn police officers. To maintain the private investigators in the Police Department, it is imperative that the department should implement an employee incentivised system comprising of training programmes and professional advancement. In fact, the quality of life and work is a major area of concern for the civilian investigators. The use of hybrid personnel can act to replace the need for civilian investigators since the hybrid programme ensures that the sworn police officers have the same technical standards as those of the private investigators. The hybrid model guarantees diversity in the experience of the sworn police officers (Garvey et al. 2012). However, it is proper to understand that the adoption of the hybrid model will create tension in the department since the civilian investigators will perform similar roles to the sworn police officers yet the two units will have different pay levels. The result will be a decline in the morale of the sworn officers since they will be receiving a comparatively lower pay than that of the civilian investigators. Since the jury depends on the results of the forensics analyses before making final judgments as noted in Mills (2009), the inefficiency of the department may result in false results thus contributing to false judgments. Therefore, the WA Police should either impart expert crime and forensic investigation skills to the sworn officers to enable them take over the entire investigation role or allocate equal salaries and remunerations to both units. The WA Police can also use the hybrid model to implement a professional development programme to train the sworn police officers in crime and forensic investigation. The model will enhance the professionalism of the sworn police thus impacting positively on the delivery of efficient services within the community as noted in Pare et al. (2007). The International Association for Identification (IAI) and the American Society for Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) also heighten the significance of expert professionalism in training crime and forensic investigation experts (IAI & ASCLD, 2004). For the trained police officers that have met the required standards, the WA Police should advance their job levels and increase their salaries as a motivation to ascertain that they deliver quality and efficient investigation services. Therefore, following the completion of the training modules to ensure that the sworn police have acquired the modern skills, it is evident that the Department will realise an improvement in the efficiency of its operations as compared to the utility of civilian investigators. However, the continuous training and education of the sworn police should depend on the performance of the officers as suggested by Wilson and Weiss (2013). Moreover, it is common practice for the civilian investigators to strike in demand for better job allowances. It is apparent that the striking behaviour will have an adverse impact on the overall performance of the department implying that the WA Police will be unable to conduct crime and forensic investigations during the striking period. However, since it is uncommon for the sworn police officers to strike in the quest for better employment benefits, using them as crime and forensic investigators will guarantee the availability of their services. As noted by Beaver (2010), poorly trained forensics experts will jeopardise the entire forensics department thus impacting adversely on the investigation. Bykowicz and Fenton (2008) also note that the inefficiency of DNA testing may result in the termination of jobs and other adverse effects to the investigation department. Consequently, it is imperative to train the sworn police adequately to enable them to conduct investigations efficiently and track suspects thus achieving their primary objective of ensuring peace and security in Western Australia. Disadvantages of using sworn police officers as investigators The cost of hiring civilian police officers is relatively lower than that of training and using sworn police officers to offer similar services. In the case of civilian personnel, the WA Police will just staff their crime and investigation laboratories with the already trained private investigators. Under the utility of sworn police officers, the case is different since the department will incur additional costs associated with training the officers rather than just staffing them. It is also proper to opine that the utility of sworn police officers in the investigation process will yield operational shortages since the police officers will be responsible for both maintaining peace and order and conducting crime and forensic investigations at the crime scenes. Consequently, the divided attention will impact negatively on their duties at the workplace. Separating the two units intended to increase the efficiency of both the sworn police and the civilian investigators in the delivery of their services. Backlog incidences may occur when the required police-related services surpass those of the investigator thereby compelling some of the sworn investigators to leave the laboratories and join the conventional police unit to deliver the required services. A compressed schedule for the sworn police officers impacts negatively on his/her performance in either police or investigation related responsibilities (Amendola et al. 2011). Therefore, it is better to allocate the police to field assignments associated with maintaining law and order rather than locking them in the laboratories to conduct crime and forensic investigations. According to Peterson et al. (2010), Forensics Science is a significant discipline in crime investigations that necessitates utmost attention to guarantee its effective performance. The double burden associated with training the sworn officers to maintain their standard police training and acquire lab certifications to be investigators and the associated overburdening of the police explains the reason why it is necessary to split the functions of the two units. Moreover, the national forensic requirements are higher thus will necessitate the elevation of the training skills of the sworn police to achieve the desired standards. Conclusion Being the largest single police jurisdiction in the world, the WA Police Forensic Division handles the crime investigation processes from the crime scene to the arrest stage. The sworn police bear paramount significance to the entire investigation process since they handle the collection of first-hand evidentiary data following the occurrence of a crime. They prevent unauthorised personnel from interfering with the evidence before completing the process of collecting all the required information. Therefore, the decision of the WA Police to use sworn police officers as investigators is beneficial to the crime and forensic investigation processes. References Amendola, K. L., Weisburd, D., Hamilton, E. E., Jones, G., & Slipka, M. (2011). 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