Criminal Investigation: Key Concepts and Techniques

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on criminal investigation, including roles, qualities, cardinal points, tools, interviewing, interrogation, and instrumentation.

Who is a criminal investigator and what is another name for this role?

A prober; the superstar in the investigation process.

Name some qualities of a good investigator.

Integrity, network, versatility, enthusiasm, self-control, tactfulness, intelligence, guts, acting ability, timeliness, optimism, and research orientation.

What are the three components of the trichotomy of a criminal investigator?

Training, Tools, and Technique.

What does 'Training' refer to in the trichotomy of a criminal investigator?

Critical for developing good and competent investigators; key to freedom from ignorance.

What do 'Tools' refer to in the trichotomy of a criminal investigator?

Information and interviews used to establish facts and develop evidence.

What does 'Technique' refer to in the trichotomy of a criminal investigator?

The essence of tactical strategy for an investigator.

What are the six cardinal points or questions in criminal investigation typically used to determine?

What offense has been committed, who committed it, where, when, how, and why.

What is the Golden Rule in crime scene handling?

Never touch, alter, move, or transfer any object at the crime scene unless it is properly marked, measured, sketched, and photographed.

What are the classes of information in tools of investigation?

Regular sources, cultivated sources, and grapevine sources.

What are Regular Sources in information gathering?

Records, government and non-government agencies, and news items.

What are Cultivated Sources in information gathering?

Information gathered from informants, vendors, taxi drivers, GRO, and others.

What are Grapevine Sources in information gathering?

Information obtained from underworld characters such as prisoners and ex-convicts.

What is an Interview in criminal investigation?

A purposive conversation aimed at obtaining information from someone believed to have knowledge of official interest.

What is the Basic Assumption in interviewing?

Nobody should talk to law enforcers unless persuaded within legal and ethical bounds; interviewing is an art.

What does IRONIC stand for in the interview format?

Identity, Rapport, Opening statement, Narration, Inquiry, Conclusions.

What is Identity in the IRONIC interview format?

The interviewer should identify or introduce himself and his agency, unless unnecessary to reveal identity.

What is Rapport in the IRONIC interview format?

Creating a pleasant and positive feeling between subject and investigators.

What is Opening Statement in the IRONIC interview format?

Provide context for the interview and explain why the subject is being contacted.

What is Narration in the IRONIC interview format?

The witness narrates knowledge with little interruption from the investigator.

What is Inquiry in the IRONIC interview format?

Asking questions after narration to clarify areas under investigation.

What are Conclusions in the IRONIC interview format?

Conclude with courtesy and acknowledge the subject’s cooperation.

What is Interrogation in criminal investigation?

The act of questioning a person suspected of an offense or unwilling to disclose information relevant to the investigation.

What are the purposes of interrogation?

To obtain a confession, to induce admission, to learn the facts of the crime, identify the accomplice, develop information to recover fruits of the crime, and discover details of other crimes.

Name two emotional-based interrogation techniques.

Emotional appeal and sympathetic appeal.

What is Extenuation in interrogation techniques?

The investigator communicates or shows that the subject’s indiscretion is not a grave offense.

What is Shifting Blame in interrogation techniques?

The interrogator conveys belief about the subject, not the criminal by nature, to separate the person from the crime.

What is Mutt and Jee in interrogation techniques?

Two agents: one relentless (Mutt) and one kind-hearted (Jee) working together.

What is Bluff on a Split Pair in interrogation techniques?

With more than one suspect, suspects are separated and one is told the other has talked.

What is Pretense of Physical Evidence in interrogation techniques?

The investigator pretends that certain physical evidence has been found to incriminate the subject.

What is Jolting in interrogation techniques?

Calming a nervous subject by observing them and asking questions at a propitious moment.

What is Deposition in the investigation context?

Witness’s sworn out-of-court testimony used to gather information; may be used at trial; the witness is the deponent.

What is the difference between Confession and Admission?

Confession is a self-incriminatory statement acknowledging guilt; Admission is self-incriminatory but not a full admission of guilt.

What is Custodial Investigation?

Questioning of a person under custodial detention, where the subject may be unnerved.

What is Instrumentation in crime investigation?

The application of instruments and methods of physical science to detect crimes; important when physical evidence is present.