Chapter 5: Records and Files


1. Purpose of Records in Criminal Investigations

Records are investigative tools that help investigators:

  • Identify a perpetrator.

  • Trace or locate suspects, criminals, and witnesses.

  • Recover stolen or lost property.

  • Obtain information about physical evidence.

  • Identify friends, associates, and relationships.

  • Link a person to a place, another person, or an object.

  • Reconstruct someone's activities, movements, lifestyle, and behavior.

Why are records useful?
A person's life creates a trail of records, often in chronological order. Investigators can use these records to reconstruct a person's activities and discover information that may help solve a case.

2. Types of Records and Files

Law Enforcement Records

  • Police files are commonly organized by:

    • Type of offense.

    • Names of offenders and victims.

    • Location of the crime.

    • Date and time.

    • Relevant case facts.

    • Case disposition.

  • Law enforcement records are often easy for investigators to access and can contain significant information.

  • Records may include criminal histories, fingerprints, photographs, and modus operandi (MO) information.

Criminal Photograph Files

  • Also known as mug shot files or a Rogues Gallery.

  • Contain photographs and identifying information about known offenders.

  • Help investigators identify possible suspects.

Fingerprint Files

  • Used to help identify individuals through fingerprint comparisons.

Modus Operandi (MO) Files

  • Contain information about how crimes are committed.

  • Help investigators connect crimes that may have been committed by the same offender.

Government Records

  • Federal, state, county, and city government agencies maintain records.

  • Examples include:

    • Property ownership records.

    • Election and voting records.

    • Public school records.

    • Birth and death certificates.

    • DMV records.

    • Prison records.

Business Records

  • Useful business records include:

    • Telephone records.

    • Gas and electric records.

    • Internet records.

    • Bank records.

    • Credit card records.

    • Insurance records.

    • Utility records.

Three Major Credit Reporting Agencies

  • Experian.

  • Equifax.

  • TransUnion.

3. Crime Pattern Analysis

Crime pattern analysis involves examining crimes to identify patterns, trends, and possible connections.

Investigators use it to:

  • Identify possible suspects.

  • Connect crimes that may involve the same offender.

  • Identify crime trends and targets.

  • Create crime maps.

  • Identify where known offenders live in relation to crimes.

  • Share information between law enforcement agencies.

4. Modus Operandi (MO)

Modus Operandi (MO): The method or pattern an offender uses when committing a crime.

An MO file may organize information by:

  • Type of crime.

  • Time, day, and location.

  • Type of property or person targeted.

  • Ruse used.

  • Tale used.

  • Miscellaneous characteristics or unusual behaviors.

Ruse: A method or disguise used to gain access or deceive someone.
Example: An offender pretends to be a worker using a work vehicle or uniform.

Tale: A false story used to gain someone's trust or access to a location.
Example: Someone pretends to be from the gas or electric company and claims they need to check a meter or look for a leak.

Miscellaneous characteristics: Unusual behaviors or details that may help connect crimes.
Example: The "wet bandits."

5. Geospatial Analysis and GIS

Geospatial Analysis: The use of mapping technology to examine information about the locations of specific events.

GIS (Geographic Information System): A system that captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data connected to geographic locations.

GIS helps investigators:

  • Map crimes.

  • Identify crime patterns.

  • See where crimes are occurring.

  • Examine relationships between locations and criminal activity.

  • Develop an overall picture of crime in an area.

6. Other Sources of Records

Investigators can obtain information from:

  • Federal government agencies.

  • State and local government agencies.

  • Businesses and utilities.

  • Credit reporting agencies.

  • Insurance companies.

  • Labor unions.

  • Fraternal organizations.

  • Banks.

  • Telephone companies.

  • Social media.

  • Internet websites, blogs, and other online sources.

Social Media: Can provide information about a person's lifestyle, relationships, activities, and movements.

Mail Covers: A method of collecting information from the outside of mail, such as sender and recipient information.

Trash Covers: Examining discarded materials for information that may be useful to an investigation.

7. Important Laws and Court Cases Related to Records

Buckley Amendment: Related to privacy and access to educational records.

United States v. Miller: Related to bank records and the expectation of privacy in information held by banks.

Smith v. Maryland: Related to telephone records and information about numbers dialed.

California v. Greenwood: Related to the expectation of privacy in trash left for collection.

RFPA (Right to Financial Privacy Act): Provides certain protections regarding access to financial records.

8. Important Things to Remember

  • Records can help investigators identify people, places, objects, and relationships.

  • Police files may be organized by offense, offender, victim, and sometimes MO.

  • DMV and prison records can be useful investigative sources.

  • Credit reporting agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

  • GIS is used to map and analyze location-based information.

  • Records can help reconstruct someone's activities and lifestyle.