CJS2007 Effective investigation

includes decision making, and communication skills

what does a effective investigation involve?

understanding your role, investigative mindset, being open-minded, being proportionate and good interpretational skills

key characteristics of an effective investigation

legality, integrity, objectivity and victim-centered approach

confirmation bias

seeking evidence that supports pre-existing beliefs 

anchoring bias

relying too heavily on initial information 

overconfident bias

overestimating one’s knowledge or accuracy

groupthink

suppressing dissent in team settings

sunflower bias

aligning with authority figures without challenge

availability heuristic 

where people judge the likelihood or frequency of an event based on how easily examples come to mind 

No bias

investigator does not favour any party involved in the investigation

No personal beliefs

investigator’s personal beliefs or biases do not affect their judgement

No stake in the outcome

investigators personal beliefs has no interest in the outcome of the investigation 

based on evidence

investigator’s findings are based on evidence, not unsubstantiated allegations or rumours

treats all parties equally

investigators personally treats all parties involved equally

why is impartiality important

ensures a fair outcome and maintains trust for all parties involved

key communication skills

active listening, empathy, emotional intelligence, non-verbal communication, clarity and neutrality