Chapter 5: Records and Files

What are records in criminal investigations used for?

Identifying perpetrators, tracing suspects, recovering property, obtaining evidence, and reconstructing activities.

What is the purpose of law enforcement records?

To organize and access significant information related to offenses, offenders, victims, crime locations, and case facts.

What are criminal photograph files also known as?

Mug shot files or a Rogues Gallery.

What information do fingerprint files provide?

They are used to identify individuals through fingerprint comparisons.

What do Modus Operandi (MO) files contain?

Information about how crimes are committed, helping to connect crimes by the same offender.

What do investigators use crime pattern analysis for?

To identify suspects, connect crimes, identify trends, and create crime maps.

What is the definition of Modus Operandi (MO)?

The method or pattern an offender uses when committing a crime.

What is GIS and how does it help investigators?

Geographic Information System captures and analyzes location data to map and understand crime.

What types of government records can investigators access?

Property ownership, election records, public school records, and DMV records.

What sources can investigators obtain information from?

Government agencies, businesses, credit reporting agencies, and social media.

What is the significance of the Buckley Amendment?

It relates to privacy and access to educational records.

What is Smith v. Maryland related to?

It concerns telephone records and the expectation of privacy in numbers dialed.

What does the RFPA stand for?

Right to Financial Privacy Act.

What kind of records do credit reporting agencies maintain?

Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion maintain financial records.

How can social media be useful in investigations?

It provides information about a person's lifestyle, relationships, activities, and movements.

What is the purpose of mail covers in investigations?

To collect information from the outside of mail, such as sender and recipient details.

What does 'trash covers' refer to?

Examining discarded materials for information that may aid an investigation.

What are the components that organize MO files?

Type of crime, time and location, targeted property or person, ruse, tale, and unusual behaviors.

Why are government records important in criminal investigations?

They offer reliable information related to individuals that can assist in locating and identifying suspects.

What is the purpose of criminal history records?

To provide background information on offenders that can aid in ongoing investigations.

What are the key types of records that assist in investigations?

Law enforcement records, criminal photograph files, fingerprint files, and business records.