Field Notes and Reports - Essay Example

Field s and Reports al Affiliation Introduction Field s and reports are very crucial in a criminal investigation; they offer a short record of occurrences, moments, situations, suspects, eyewitnesses, and extra information in writing. Field notes are employed as the foundation of occurrences and crime reports. The significance of writing essential and absolute notes in each investigation, in spite of the crime, should not be underrated. Field notes are more dependable than a human’s memory, as they can be utilized as a basis of certain information and aspects that are forgettable (Schroeder, & Lombardo, 2004).

Criminal investigationCriminal investigation is the way of finding out, assembling, organizing, classifying and presenting evidence to establish what occurred and the person involved with the crime. Criminal investigation is a useful process, and it uses subtractive explanation, a reasonable procedure in which the ending follows from certain details. An investigator proves that the suspect is guilty of a crime through a certain aspect of the evidence (Lyman, 2013). There exist three main scientific methods in which a criminal can be identified, they include;Anthropometry; is the study of an individual body measurement to be utilized in anthropological categorization and evaluation.

Anthropometry was developed by Alphonse Bertillon.Dactylography: is the study of fingerprints as a way of identifying an individual. Dactylography is regarded as a dependable way of recognizing an individual because the fingers’ and hands’ papillar lines are unique (Lyman, 2013).DNA: Forensic scientists can utilize DNA contained in the semen, blood, skin, saliva or hair found at the scene of a crime to recognize an identical DNA of a suspect. The FBI was the initial public sector crime laboratory in the United States to allow cases for DNA scrutiny.

Current Investigative problems and issuesCurrently, the criminal investigative is faced with various problems including:High cost of equipments used to investigate crimes, and also it would require more personnelAnother issue is the compulsory forced to perform analysis. Therefore, people with no apparent connection to any criminal act would have to undergo scrutiny.The investigators may lack the critical skill needed to solve the problemsRole of policeUniformed and plainclothes officers play different roles in the criminal investigation as people rely on them to safeguard their lives and property.

Various police officers focus in various fields such as chemical and microscopic scrutiny, guiding and firearms lessons, or handwriting and fingerprint recognition. Some work in various departments such as Special units and special weapons and tactics also known as SWAT (Lyman, 2013).Inductive reasoningIt reviews and estimates the related features of an offense committed by diverse criminals. The inductive reasoning is founded on the hypothetical and investigational study of the criminal behavior.

Inductive reasoning does not require expert forensic acquaintance, education or guidance in the criminal behavior study (Becker, & Dutelle, 2013).Deductive reasoningDeductive reasoning requires acquaintance and application of psychology, sociology, criminology and psychiatry. In deductive reasoning an investigator reviews the scene of the crime, analytical thinking and logistics to come to behavior scrutiny evidence (Lyman, 2013). Steps of criminal investigative processThere exists different steps of criminal investigative process; they include:Approaching the crime scene; the initial attendant should guard the scene of the crime, to maximize forensic opportunities.

The Preliminary Investigation; the preliminary investigation is very important, although some officers tend to ignore it. The preliminary investigation begins with collecting information about the crime. In preliminary investigation time, date, location and ways of the crime are obtained (Becker, & Dutelle, 2013). Witnesses; Witnesses are very beneficial in solving crimes and mostly they are the main people in such circumstances.Physical Evidence; Forensic recovery involves taking pictures of the crime scene and discovering the physical evidence such as taking of fingerprints.

ConclusionCriminal investigation is one of the most crucial steps to solve problems concerning crime in the society. Various methods of crime investigations relate to hidden information test and behavior scrutiny interviews. ReferencesBecker, R. F., & Dutelle, A. W. (2013). Criminal investigation. Burlington, Mass: Jones &Bartlett Learning. Lyman, M. D. (2013). Criminal investigation: The art and the science. Upper Saddle River, N.J:Prentice HallSchroeder, D. J., & Lombardo, F. A. (2004). Police sergeant examination.

Hauppauge, N.Y:Barrons.