NCJ Number
66269
Journal
KRIMINALISTIK UND FORENSISCHE WISSENSCHAFTEN Volume: 31 Dated: (1978) Pages: 47-60
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE REASONS, METHODS, AND TACTICS FOR FINDING WITNESSES IN EAST GERMAN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IN A SOCIALIST COUNTRY, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WITNESS TESTIMONY LIES NOT ONLY IN ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE TRUTH-FINDING PROCESS BUT ALSO IN THE EDUCATIONAL EFFECT THE WITNESS OBTAINS THROUGH THE FULFILLMENT OF CIVIC DUTIES. FOR LOCATING THE WITNESSES TO AN OFFENSE, INVESTIGATORS HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES (TO BE USED SINGLY OR IN COMBINATION) SUCH AS THE INTERROGATION OF A LIMITED, PREDETERMINED GROUP OF WITNESSES, THE SYSTEMATIC INTERROGATION OF A PARTICULAR CROSS-SECTION OF THE POPULATION, THE ANALYSIS OF ALREADY OBTAINED WITNESS OR VICTIM TESTIMONY, AND THE USE OF POLICE DOGS. IN THEIR PROCEDURE, POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD FOLLOW TACTICAL GUIDELINES BY DEVELOPING A PLAN OF ACTION (E.G., BY PREDETERMINING THE GROUP OF THE POPULATION TO BE INTERROGATED, OUTLINING THE TYPE OF INFORMATION REQUIRED, AND ARRANGING THE METHOD FOR LOCATING WITNESSES) AND BY ADJUSTING THEIR OWN REACTIONS TO THE CHANGING REQUIREMENTS OF EACH WITNESS AND EACH SITUATION. THE FOLLOWING STEPS OF PROCEDURE FIT A VARIETY OF INVESTIGATIVE SITUATIONS: (1) ANALYSIS OF ALREADY OBTAINED EVIDENCE, (2) DEVELOPMENT OF HYPOTHESES CONCERNING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE EVENT, (3) DECISION ON NUMBER AND TYPE OF WITNESSES TO BE INTERROGATED, (4) LOCATION OF WITNESSES, (5) WITNESS INTERROGATION, (6) ANALYSIS OF WITNESS TESTIMONY, AND (7) DECISION ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES. VALUABLE WITNESS TESTIMONY CAN OFTEN BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE PERSON REPORTING A CRIME, THROUGH THE SCENE-SEARCH, AND THROUGH AN APPEAL IN THE MASS-MEDIA. IF THE OFFENDER IS ALREADY KNOWN, THE SEARCH FOR WITNESSESS HAS A DIFFERENT FOCUS--THE LOCATION OF PERSONS WHO CAN REFUTE OR CORROBORATE THE OFFENDER'S ASSERTIONS. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)