Criminal Investigations: Midterm

Chapter 1-10

Define investigator

Someone who systematically gathers, documents, and evaluates evidence and information.

Define the most fundamental purpose of investigation

The most fundamental purpose of investigation is to discover the truth.

State four additional objectives of the investigative process

Establish that a crime was actually committed

Identify and apprehend the suspect(s)

Recover stolen property

Assist in the prosecution of the person(s) charged with the crime

Explain the importance of the Bow Street Runners

They were important because they were the first modern detective force. Developed in 1748 by Henry Fielding, the Bow Street Runners to catch thieves in London. In 1748 the Bow Street Runners were made up of volunteer, nonuniformed home owners. By 1785 some were paid government detectives.

Discuss the contribution of Sir Robert Peel’s reform to early policing in the United States

Explain the history and contributions of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency

1846 after a growing need for reliable investigators. Formed by Allan Pinkerton.

1850 Pinkerton formed a private detective agency with attorney Edward Rucker.

1861 Pinkerton organized a Secret Service Division within the army and worked closely with General McClellan.

Pinkerton discovered and foiled an assassination attempt on President elect Lincoln in Baltimore.

Post Civil War, the Pinkertons were engaged in controlling a discontented working class, which was pushing for better wages and working conditions and pursuing bank and railroad robbers.

Used harsh and unwise methods of snuffing out criminals.

Maintained records and collected photographs related to criminals/crimes. This collection of evidence would later aid them in arrests.

Identify the first major federal investigative agencies and their responsibilities

U.S. Secret Service - Counterfeiting later changed to guarding the president.

California Bureau of Criminal Identification - Share info about criminal activity.

Bureau of Internal Revenue - Enforcing prohibition.

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Investigations to be handled by a special group such as dealing with sought after criminals. 

National Academy - Training course for state and local police.

National Crime Information Center (NCIC) - Provided data on wanted persons and property stolen from all 50 states.

Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) - Investigating the distribution of nonmedical drugs a federal crime.

Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD)

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Fights international drug traffic. Trains state and local police in investigative works: recognizing illegal drugs, control of drug purchases, surveillance methods, undercover techniques and handling of informants.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Explain the Supreme Court’s “due process revolution” and its impact on policing

1961-1966. The Supreme Court is usually active in hearing cases involving the rights of criminal suspects and defendants: search and seizure and the right to legal representation. Miranda rights established, police felt that the Supreme Court had tied their hands.

Discuss Bertillon’s method of anthropometry

The study and comparison of body measurements as a means of criminal identification. Bertillon concluded that if 11 physical measurements of a person were taken, the chances of finding another person with the same measurements would be extremely difficult. Initially, this method was not warmly received but after being implemented on an experimental basis and correctly identifying a criminal, his idea made waves across Europe.

Summarize the historical development of fingerprint identification

China T’ang Dynasty - 18th Century, 14th Century Persia and 17th Century England: Used on contracts and official documents. 

1st Century: Quintilianus used a bloody fingerprint in a murder trial in the defense of a child murdering his father.

1684 Dr. Nehemiah Grew called to attention the system of pores and ridges in the hands and feet, affirmed by Marcello Malpighi two years later. 

1823 John Perkinge named 9 standard types of fingerprint patterns and outlined a broad method of classification.

1858 Herschel noted that the patterns of the lines on the fingerprints never changed for an individual.

1877 Herschel wore to inspector general of the prisons of Bengal, roadblock by general.

1880 Henry Faulds finds thief leaving a sooty print and reports to police that the person they have in custody is the wrong person. Reported findings to a journal aftwards.

Herschel claims he was the first to discover it 20 years earlier, and controversy breaks out with no resolution. The public remains disinterested in these findings leading to frustration in both men.

1892 Francis Galton contacts Herschel for his research findings, Herschel agrees and Galton publishes the first definitive book on dactylography.

1894 Juan Vucetich published Dactiloscopia Comparada outlining his method of fingerprint classification.

1891 Edward Henry developed interest in fingerprints and instituted Bertillon’s system with the addition of fingerprints to the cards.Using Galton’s book he created a simple, reliable method of classification and submitted a request to the general of India to drop anthropometry in favor of his fingerprint classification system. Idea adopted throughout British India 6 months later.

1900 Henry’s system was adopted in England.

Explain touch DNA

A person’s skin sheds (only some suitable for DNA analysis), transferring of DNA materials to their bands from picking their nose, handling objects. The more a person handles an object, the greater the potential for touch DNA to be present. Secondary transfers are possible if someone deposits another's DNA on an object.

Describe DNA phenotyping

Provides a genomic-based, probabilistic estimation of the image of a person of interest.

Why did the British public object to the use of detectives after enactment of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829?

Why did the profession of detective in this country basically evolve in the private sector?

Of what significance is the work of Pinkerton and his National Detective Agency?

What is a rogues’ gallery?

Instituted by the New York City Police Department in 1857, a display in which photographs of known offenders were arranged by criminal specialty and height for detectives to study so that they might recognize criminals on the street.

What similarities did Alan Pinkerton and J. What do Edgar Hoover have in common?

Why was anthropometry abandoned in favor of dactylography?

What are the milestones in the development of dactylography?

Why does the Henry classification system enjoy greater use than Vucetich’s system?

What is the new biometrics?

It is the measurable and automated physiological or behavior characteristics that can be used to verify the identity of an individual. A large number of characteristics are being used or investigated for suitability for identification, a set of behavior characteristics has been added, although there is long-standing experience with using handwriting analysis to establish identification and automation is being used to establish individual identification.

How and what does DNA phenotyping produce?

Is a twenty-first century composite sketch of a person of interest. Not formed by an image based on description from a witness but from the DNA found at the scene of a crime. Provides a genomic based probabilistic estimation of the image of a person of interest.

How are microbial communities used to determine the postmortem interval?

Explain the historical evolution of the laws of arrest and search and seizure from the Bill of Rights through the Fourteenth Amendment

Describe and diagram the flow of constitutional rights to a defendant in a federal criminal trial and a defendant in a state criminal trial

Outline the requirements of a valid arrest warrant

Describe whether a “John Doe” arrest warrant is ever valid, and if so under what circumstance

Define probable cause

Describe the evolution of the exclusionary rule

Explain the “silver platter” doctrine

Describe the reasons for a search incident to a lawful arrest

Explain the limitations on the search of a motor vehicle incident to an arrest

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