NCJ Number
84275
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The fundamental elements of criminal and civil investigations are preliminary investigation, informational development, knowledge of human factors, case assignment priority, case supervision, selection of the investigator, and knowledge of rules of evidence.
Abstract
The preliminary investigation is initiated by the officer first arriving at the crime scene and includes identifying witnesses and suspects present and making sure they will be available for subsequent interviews by the investigator and that any oral or documented evidence from them will stand the test of court admissibility. The crime scene should be protected from any contamination of evidence that might be present. Information development involves the gathering and processing of essential data upon which the investigation and subsequent prosecution will be based. Knowledge of human factors is crucial for an investigator, since human qualities and thought processes involved in the crime can explain motive and the meaning and location of evidence. Generally, the selection of cases for investigative priority should be based on the clues uncovered in the preliminary investigation, with those having the greatest probability of being solved given priority, although serious crimes should be given priority regardless of the availability of initial evidence. The supervisor who makes the initial case assignment should continue to monitor the investigation efforts, and the investigator selected for a particular case should have the experience and personal qualities appropriate for the case. The investigator should have a thorough knowledge of the rules of evidence such that the manner and nature of the evidence obtained will be admissible in court and thus contribute toward a conviction.