CH 1: Investigation of Crime

criminal investigation

activities conducted to collect evidence in order to achieve certain goals

criminal evidence

also known as crime-related information; criminal evidence is collected during criminal investigations

forensic science

forensic science refers to the field of science that addresses legal questions

case screening

the process of selecting cases for a follow-up investigation; usually based on seriousness of the crime and solvability factors

solvability factors

key pieces of evidence that enhance the likelihood a crime will be solved

sting operation

a police strategy in which undercover police attempt to buy or sell illicit goods

decoy operation

a police strategy in which undercover police attempt to attract criminal behavior

undercover fencing operation

a police strategy in which undercover police buy or sell stolen property

surveillance

an operation that involves the police monitoring the activities of a person

stakeouts

operations that involve the police watching a particular place

entrapment

occurs when the police induce or compel a person to commit a crime when that person is not predisposed to committing the crime

information theory

the idea that the criminal investigation process is a battle between the police and the perpetrator over evidence of the crime

probability error

the possibility that coincidences are considered to be actual evidence

tunnel vision

when an investigator exclusively focuses on a particular person or range of alternatives and excludes other possibilities

confirmation bias

the tendency to pay attention only to evidence that supports already-existing beliefs

immovable mindset

the difficulty in changing one’s theory about a crime and who committed it, even in the face of mounting contradictory evidence

overconfidence bias

the tendency to overestimate one’s abilities, knowledge, and talents

groupthink

a phenomenon whereby people in a group tend to interpret ideas and theories similarly and draw similar conclusions