NCJ Number
55926
Journal
Kriminalistik Volume: 32 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 390-395
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE CONCEPT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF CRIMINALISTICS ARE EXPLORED IN THE SECOND ARTICLE OF A TWO-PART SERIES.
Abstract
THE BASIC CRIMINALISTIC PRINCIPLE IS DISCOVERING CRIME CAUSES AND EVENTUALLY DETERMINING THE OFFENDER FROM CRIME RESULTS; TO THIS END, 'LAWS,' I.E., FIXED CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CRIME, THE CRIMINAL, AND THE ENVIRONMENT MUST BE ESTABLISHED ON A THEORETICAL LEVEL. ACCORDING TO THE THEORY OF REFLECTION, MATTER REPRODUCES EXTERNAL EFFECTS IN INNER CHANGES, LEAVING THE MATERIAL CLUES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO CRIMINALISTIC THEORY AND PRACTICE. LAWS YET TO BE DEVELOPED RELATE TO CONNECTIONS BETWEEN KINDS OF CRIMES AND TYPICAL OFFENDERS, CLUES INDICATING A PARTICULAR MODUS OPERANDI, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE OFFENDER AND THE OFFENSE, THE ASSOCIATION OF OFFENDER AND OFFENSE WITH MOTIVATION, THE DESTRUCTION OF CLUES BY TIME AND WEATHER, THE RELATIVITY OF CRIMINALISTIC RECONSTRUCTION, AND THE SPECIFICS OF BOTH DIAGNOSTICALLY AND PROJECTIVELY ORIENTED CRIMINALISTIC THINKING. THE HUMAN BEING IS CENTRAL TO THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATIONS, SO THAT KNOWLEDGE IS REQUIRED OF THE SOCIAL COMMUNICATION INVOLVED IN INTERROGATION, OF THE PSYCHODYNAMICS CHARACTERISTIC OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR, AND OF INTERACTION PRINCIPLES BETWEEN OFFICERS AND AFFECTED PARTIES. CRIMINALISTICS DEMAND THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEDUCTIVE AND INDUCTIVE METHODS OF PROOF USED FOR INVESTIGATION, AND AWARENESS OF CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES. THE FIELD OF CRIMINALISTICS ALSO ENCOMPASSES TECHNOLOGICAL METHODS FOR EVALUATING CLUES AS WELL AS INFORMATION SERVICES. WHILE TACTICS REFER TO A PARTICULAR REACTION TO A SITUATION IN TERMS OF INFORMATION GATHERING, ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACHES, AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER OFFICES, STRATEGY APPLIES TO A WHOLE SYSTEM OF THINKING WHICH EXTENDS TO ANALYSIS, PLANNING, COORDINATION, AND EVALUATION OF RESULTS, AND REQUIRES THE EXISTENCE OF A SPECIAL STAFF. INTELLIGENCE COUPLED WITH SCIENTIFIC METHOD ARE JUDGED THE BEST WEAPONS AGAINST CRIME. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)