NCJ Number
199393
Date Published
2002
Length
362 pages
Annotation
This introductory text covers the many fundamental topics involved with physical surveillance for uniformed and plainclothes law enforcement personnel.
Abstract
Physical surveillance is one of the most essential resources available to investigators and officers for detecting criminal activities and building a case against the suspected offenders. As such, it is important to build the skills necessary for observing criminal suspects while remaining undetected. The first chapter explains that physical surveillance is the “direct observation of people, vehicles, or activity taking place at some given location for the purpose of obtaining information.” According to the authors, physical surveillance remains more of an art form than a series of techniques; however, it is possible to offer guidance toward the successful completion of physical surveillance. As such, the authors offer instruction, in various chapters, on how to plan for a surveillance job as well as how to best carry out vehicle surveillance, foot surveillance, stationary surveillance, and undercover surveillance. Particular applications of surveillance are also discussed, including physical surveillance for private investigators and process servers, surveillance for drug investigations, night-time surveillance, and electronic surveillance. Other topics covered in the text are surveillance techniques for terrorism investigations and prostitution investigations. The authors offer a chapter on how to read the environment, including how to recognize and read environmental behavioral clues, neighborhood dynamics, and the routine behaviors of people and animals. Another chapter deals with the issue of vision and vision-aid equipment for surveillance officers. Similarly, the following chapter takes up the topic of surveillance photography and offers tips on types of cameras, video cameras, and film, as well as how to handle infrared photography. Final chapters offer tips for writing surveillance reports and the basics of the laws involving the use of physical and electronic surveillance. The authors caution that the techniques set forth in this text are best applied with variations that should be adapted to each individual setting of surveillance and the intended goal of the investigation. Appendix, index