Criminal Investigations Final

Interview

Non Accusatory. May be with the suspect, witness , victim or third party, formal, used to obtain information. Suspect can terminate interview at any time

interrogation

Accusatory confrontation with a suspect with the goal of confession

Confession

Suspect provides admission of guilt. Oral or written acknowledgement of guilt which often includes details of the crime. Should not be coerced by threats or force

When interviewing you should

Use open ended questions, dont use leading questions or close ended questions

Voluntary False Confessions

Claim responsibility for crimes they did not commit without prompting or pressure from the police (usually happens with high profile cases)

coerced

People are induced to confess through police interrogation (short term gain v long term costs)

Coerced-internalized false confessions

Innocent but vulnerable suspects confess and come to believe they committed the crime (memory distrust syndrome)

coercion

the use or threat of use of illegal physical methods to induce a suspect to make an admission or confession

Duress

the imposition of restrictions on physical behavior such as prolonged interrogation or deprivation of food water or sleep

Miranda Rights

Prior to custodial interrogation, right to reamin silent, anything said can be used against you, right to attorney, right to appointed representation if cannot afford one, must acknowledge your rights and waive those rights knowingly and intelligently.

bookings

despite the custodial aspect, miranda rights are not required as long as no questions are asked concerning the incident

Where should you interrogate suspect

removed from familiar surroundings, minimal furnishings so as not to be distracted, sterile and less threatening environment that is private and encourage a suspect to feel comfortable, close but not too close, no physical barriers

Field Interview/information reports (FIR)

Filled out when patrolling officers identify persons or vehicles that are suspicious to them but are not connected to any particular offense. cards can link a suspect to a location of interest

Polygraph

Measures physiological changes in person being polygraphed while being asked questions by the polygrapher (four signs are pulse, respiration, bloos pressure, galvanic skin response (GSR)

Polygraph results

Deception indicated, No deception indicated, inconclusive

Can you use a polygraph in court

Not admssible (in most cases) unless agreed to by both prosecutor and defense

voice stress analyzer

only measures one physiological sign, quality of voice, less accurate than the polygraph

Intelligence collection

Process connecting interrelated components of information. all officers associated with the collection process must have an understanding of the entire intelligence function and components

Components of Gathering Intelligence

Target Selection, Data collection, data collation and analysis, and dissemination

analysis

takes fragmented information and puts it into logical sequence that is purposeful to the user

Link analysis charting

a technique designed to show relationships between individuals and organization using a graphical visual design

Flowcharting

demonstrates a chain of events or activities over a period

Event flow

Analysis are conducted early in an investigation to portray order of events

Commodity flow

Analysis may simplify the investigation process by charting the flow of commodities like drugs, money and arms shipments.

Intelligence Cycle

Five step process which is continuous: planning and direction, collection, processing, analysis and production, dissemination

Strategic Intelligence

Provides the investigator with information as to the capabilities and intentions of target subjects.

When is Strategic intelligence useful?

in organizing long range plans for interdiction in areas of criminal activity over extended periods

Tactical Intelligence

Furnishes the police agency with specifics about individuals. organizations, and different types of criminal activity.

Overt information collection

Includes personal interaction with people, witnesses, victims, or suspects. Publicly known

Covert information collection

is a process of data collection on criminal acts that have not yet occurred but for which the investigator must prepare (undercover)

License plate readers

Typically mounted on police patrol vehicles or on interstate overpasses and use high speed cameras that take pictures of licenses plates and store the information aids in stolen vechile cases and amber alerts

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Can be installed by police on a vehicle and information of where that car went 24/7 will be collected and analyzed (about size of small paperback book)

Types of Undercover work

long term, deep cover, short term

Informants

any people who provide information of an investigative nature to law enforcement, used in victimless and vice crimes

victims are...

NOT informants but complainants

Cooperating Witness

person whose relationship with the government is concealed until testimony at trial is require and actively participates in the resolution of the case

Who are informants?

(1) Average citizens
(2) Fellow law enforcement officers
(3) Mentally ill persons
(4) Criminals or their associates

Flipping

the procedure in which an arrest person is given a choice of providing information in exchange for dropping their charges, required approval of the prosecutor

Problems with informants

Investigations becoming too friendly, informants of the opposite sex, crimies committed by the informant

Witness protection program

Run by the U.S. Marshall Service, provides a false identity and relocates persons who testify in important cases in which their lives may be in jeopardy for testifying used in drug cases and in organized crime cases

Foot Surveillance

Follow target on foot may involve 1 to many surveillance agent officers

Vehicle surveillance

follow target in cars may use one to several cars

stakeout

Stationary Technique something used in arrest situation

What is the systematic questioning of a person suspected of involvement in a crime for the purpose of obtaining a confession?

Interrogation

Which technique of good interviewers relates to the idea that the investigator must keep emotional reactions under control at all times?

Do not dispute the subjects answers

Sarah is the lead investigator in a high-profile murder case, which involves the possible involvement of Congressmen. She interviews the only witness in the case, and anticipates the need for additional meetings with the witness as the investigation proceeds. Which consideration is most likely to encourage the witness's further cooperation?

Thanking the witness for their time and after the interview

Detective smith has a good reason to believe that Joe Brown committed an armed robbery so he is interrogating him. Joe has refused an attorney and signed the waiver. Detective smith knows joe is not being truthful with his answers what options does detective smith have to ger joe to tell the truth

Lie to Joe and tell him the police have a security tape showing him robbing the store

Tim is an investigator attempting to obtain information from a suspect about the method of operation in a burglary case. He gathers information to build a logical structure of the crime and to provide information for the prosecutors. Tim is likely to be in which process?

Interrogation

What is the use, or threat of use, of illegal physical methods to induce a suspect to make an admission or confession?

Coercion

What is a Miranda warning?

A warning required to be given by the police before an interrogation to inform a subject of his or her constitutional rights, especially their right to counsel and rights involving self-incrimination.