Criminal Investigations Exam 1

5 primary goals of a criminal investigation

determine crime, identify suspect, arrest suspect, recover property, build case for prosecution

when is an investigation considered successful

logical process, legal evidence, effective interviews, developed leads, accurate records

what should investigators recognize after all leads are exhausted

when a case is unsolvable

why is the initial response to a crime scene critical

individuals/evidence may still be present

what is the first officer’s major responsibility at a crime scene

secure and protect scene

what should officers do with a dead body

leave it as found and protect surrounding area

Locard’s principle of exchange

contact leaves behind evidence

how is a crime scene protected

establish a perimeter

what are major tasks of a preliminary investigation

question people, document scene, evidence

what is the first question investigators must determine

whether a crime was actually committed

what happens after a positive field test

evidence is submitted to a laboratory

how should investigators approach media access

neither comprehensive not absolute

what are solvability factors

factors like witnesses and physical evidence indicating likelihood of solving a case

what technology is helping solve many cases today

ring cameras

how can officers reduce civil liability

clear policies, training, supervision

what are investigative notes

a permanent written record of case facts

what 6 questions should investigators ask when recording information

who, what, when, where, why, how

what are advantages of crime scene photography

immediate and accurate

what are major disadvantages of photography

distract, misses stuff, distorts distance

main advantages of video

shows distances and audio

main problems with video

poor focus/zoom, jerky, unintended audio

three basic crime scene photo ranges

long-range, medium-range, close-range

what should close-range evidence photos include

marker showing size/scale

what’s forensic photogrammetry used for

reducing time spent at crime scene

what’s surveillance photography also called

trap photography

what is aerial photography used for

covering extensive areas

what are mug shots also called

booking photos

how are lineup photographs commonly presented

groups of 6 or 12

what are the 3 requirements for an admissible photograph

material, relevant, competent

what must investigators maintain with digital images

chain of custody

what are the 5 methods for plotting objects

rectangular, baseline, triangulation, compass-point, cross-projection

what’s the cornerstone of good writing

organization

what should the opening paragraph contain

time, date, incident type, how officer became involved

what should second paragraph contain

statements, actions taken, disposition

what tense and voice should police reports generally use

past tense, first person, active voice

what’s a fact

a statement that can be proven

what’s an inference

a conclusion based on reasoning

what’s an opinion

a personal belief

what’s the final/prosecution report

the report containing essential information needed to bring a case to trial

what’s an incident report

preliminary officer report

what’s a supplemental report

additional information during investigation

what’s does the lying eyes picture relate to

detecting lies

what does the fourth amendment prohibit

unreasonable searches and seizures

what are the two fourth amendment clauses

reasonableness and warrant

what must exist before a lawful search or arrest

probable cause

what are the common exceptions allowing a search without a warrant

consent, frisk, lawful arrest

what are the four types of “plain sense” evidence

plain view, feel, smell, hearing

what is the knock and announce rule

police must knock and announce before searching

when may a no-knock warrant be issued

when officers or evidence in danger

what makes consent to search valid

must be voluntary and freely given

can consent to a search be revoked

yes

exclusionary rule

illegally obtained evidence generally cannot be used in court

what’s fruit of poisonous tree doctrine

evidence from illegally obtained evidence excluded

two major exceptions to the exclusionary rule

inevitable discovery and good faith

where should an interior search begin

at point of entry

what areas are searched during an interior search

floor, walls, ceiling

how should an UNARRESTED suspect generally be searched

putdown/frisk limited to weapons

how should an arrested suspect be searched

handcuffed, then complete search