the criminal investigation process glossary

arrest

to seize a person by legal authority and take them into custody

bail

the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on particular conditions such as lodgement of a sum of money as a guarantee

caution

a statement issues by police to a suspect when they are detained to inform the suspect of their rights

charge

formal accusation of a person committing a criminal offence

court attendance notice

a legal document that states when and where a person must appear in court and the charge to which they must answer

DNA evidence

genetic material such as hair, blood, and saliva, that can be used to link a suspect with a crime scene or criminal offence, or to clear a suspect

evidence

information used to support facts in a legal investigation or admissible as testimony in court

inadmissible evidence

evidence that cannot be considered by a judge or jury in court (ie. confessions obtained by force)

in situ

a Latin term meaning ‘in the place’ ; used to describe the place in which a piece of evidence is found or situated

interrogate

to formally question a suspect in relation to an alleged crime

interrogation

the act or process of questioning a suspect, carried out by the investigating officers

investigate

for the police, carrying out research to discover evidence and examine the facts surrounding an alleged criminal incident

reasonable force

such force as is reasonably necessary for the officer to perform the function; the officer must honestly believe that it was justified and not excessive

remand

a period spent in custody awaiting trail

search and seizure

the power to search a person and/or their possessions and seize and detain items that are discovered

subpoena

a legal document issued by a court, requiring a person to attend and give evidence and/or to produce specified documents to the court

surety

in bail, where another person agrees to provide a financial guarantee that the accused will return to the court for trial in exchange for the accused’s release until that date

warrant

a legal document issued by a magistrate or judge authorising an officer to perform a particular act (ie. making an arrest, conducting a search)