Criminal Investigation - ANSWER--criminal investigation is the process of legally gathering evidence of a crime that has been/being committed. A lawful
... [Show More] search for people/land/things useful in reconstructing the circumstances of an illegal act or omission and the mental state accompanying it
Bias - ANSWER--highly personal & unreasoned distortion of judgment
Crime - ANSWER-An act/omission forbidden by law and punishable by a fine/imprisonment/even death. Crimes and their penalties are established and defined by state and federal statutes and local ordinances
Circumstantial Evidence - ANSWER-A fact or event that tends to incriminate a person in a crime *being seen running from a crime scene*
Complaint - ANSWER-Person requesting an investigation or that action is taken *Is often the victim of a crime*
Corpus Delicti - ANSWER-*literally* means the body/substance of the crime. In law the term refers to proof establishing that a crime has occurred; the necessary elements that constitute a crime
Elements of a Crime - ANSWER-Conditions that must occur for an act to be called a specific kind of crime.
Evidence - ANSWER-Anything that helps establish the facts related to a crime
Fact - ANSWER-Something known to be true
Fence - ANSWER-One who receives and disposes of stolen property on a regular basis.
Field Identification - ANSWER-On-the-scene identification of a suspect by the victim of or witness to a crime, conducted within minutes of the commission of a crime
Prejudice - ANSWER-An opinion or leaning adverse to anything without just grounds or before obtaining sufficient knowledge
Modus Operandi (MO) - ANSWER-A criminal's characteristic (method of operation)
Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - ANSWER--Proof of such a convincing character that you would be willing to rely and act upon it without hesitation in the most important of your own affairs. However, it does not mean an absolute certainty.
Probable Cause - ANSWER-Evidence that warrants a person of reasonable caution in the belief that a crime has been committed
Rapport - ANSWER-a felling of ease and harmony in a contact or relationship between people.
Reasonable Doubt - ANSWER-The level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime. A real doubt, based upon reason and common sense after careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or lack of evidence, in a case
Statement - ANSWER-A legal narrative description of events related to a crime.
Suspect - ANSWER-A person considered to be directly/indirectly connected with a crime, either by overt act or by planning and/or directing it
Witness - ANSWER-A person who saw a crime or some part of it being committed or who has relevant information.
Victim - ANSWER-The person injured by a crime
Information - ANSWER-The knowledge, which the criminal investigator gathers from other persons.
Interview - ANSWER-The questioning of a person who has no personal reason to withhold information and therefore may be expected to cooperate with the investigator
Interrogation - ANSWER-The questioning of a suspect or other person who may normally be expected to be reluctant to divulge information concerning the offense under investigation
Instrumentation - ANSWER-The application of the instruments and methods of the physical sciences to the detection of crime
Laws of arrest, search and seizure do what? - ANSWER-Provides guidance on what investigative techniques are acceptable. Mastery and knowledge of criminal procedures and the rules of evidence enable the investigator to gather evidence against a suspect that can withstand court challenges.
Goals of a Criminal Investigator - ANSWER--determine if a crime has been committed
-legally obtain information/evidence to identify the person(s) responsible for committing the crime.
-legally arrest the suspect(s).
-recover any/all stolen property.
-present the best case possible to the prosecutor
Not all crimes are ___________ . - ANSWER-solvable
The legal significance of evidence rests in? - ANSWER-its influence on the judge or juror
The investigator shall collect corroborating evidence of an accused person's guilt in order to? - ANSWER-negate the defenses claims
proof beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal case is? - ANSWER-The level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime
Characteristics of a criminal investigator - ANSWER--Suspicious
-Curious
-Observant
-Unbiased and Unprejudiced
-Develops Rapport through interpersonal communication
-logical thinking
-creative problem solving
Duties of officer conducting the preliminary investigation - ANSWER--establish if a crime has been committed
-secure a description of the perpetrator
-locate and interview the victims and witnesses
-protect the crime scene
-determine how crime was committed
-record field notes and sketches
The legal significance of evidence rests in??? - ANSWER-its influence on the judge or juror.
Professional heavy criminal - ANSWER-a individual who commits the crime/crimes of burglary/white collar crimes/larceny/vehicle theft/agricultural crimes/arson, all of which may result in heavy/lengthy sentences depending on the criminal history of the accused
Professional thief - ANSWER--profit motive
-operate so as to minimize chances of observation
-lack of eyewitnesses
-requires planning
-direction
-operating skills
-works in conjunction with fences
-may commit burglary
-white collar crimes
-vehicle theft
-agricultural crimes and arson.
Semi-professional (unskilled) thief - ANSWER--this type may be more interested in getting money for drugs
-targets determined more by opportunity *cruising robber*
-less involved in planning or preparation
-more likely to resort to violence against victim
-a special danger when interrupted
-prone to violence when trying to escape
Burglar - ANSWER--same motives as PT
-safe burglary
-commercial jobs
-vehicle
-able to use stealth or defeating locks
-alarms
-can plan
-direct
-and execute operation
Robber - ANSWER--tendency to use violence on a stranger
-bolder personality
-ambush style is a option
-can plan operation *casing joint*
-leaves *signature*
-use of backup can cause problems for responding officers
The "Achilles' Heel" (weakness) of property crime is? - ANSWER-the disposal of the stolen property
Con Artists and Con Games or Schemes - ANSWER--prey on elderly
-very mobile
-tend to be non-violent
-frequently work with partners
-promises unusual return
Forgery and Credit Card Abuse - ANSWER--least violent offender
-credit cards often used as alternative to check writing
Four steps in check fraud - ANSWER--Forging
-Use of false or stolen identification cards
-Use of a presentation that overcomes a merchant's reluctance to cash a check upon minimal identification
-Con artist's sense of right time, place, and victim
Auto Theft - ANSWER--both amateurs and professionals
-fall into five categories
Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle offender - ANSWER--Joy-riding juvenile; usually host to several other juveniles
-Abandons vehicle when it runs out of gas or they tire of it.
-Transportation thief - "borrows" car for transportation.
-Abandons vehicle when it has served its purpose.
Use-in-crime thief - ANSWER--steals a car for sole purpose of using it in the commission of another crime.
Insurance fraud swindlers - ANSWER--owner abandons vehicle in area where he knows vehicle will be stripped
-May burn vehicle or have it dismantled in junkyard.
Strippers and dismantlers - ANSWER--Strippers attack parked vehicle and remove parts that can be readily disposed of
-Dismantlers steal vehicle and tow or drive it to a "chop shop"
Professional auto thief - ANSWER--steals late model vehicles and resells them
-May ship vehicles and resells them
-May ship vehicle out of country (Mexico or South America).
Street Thieves - ANSWER-encountered more by officers
-often carry weapons
-take reckless chances to avoid apprehension
-usually stealing for trading material or to procure narcotics or alcohol
Salvage Switch - ANSWER--is described as the altering of a vehicle's identity by placing the serial number of a total loss car (total loss vehicles are cheaper to buy and still get a title) onto a stolen car
Dealership Problems - ANSWER--One problem that is common in large cities with big auto dealerships is inventory control
- If a thief has an inside contact who knows when an inventory is conducted, he can arrange to steal a car off a dealer's lot and it won't be missed for up to three months
Rental Cars - ANSWER--finding suspects driving rental cars in different states that have expired rental contracts
-can not arrest unless rental car company wants to report as stolen
-most have no idea until months later due to size of fleet
Analysis of a vehicle that may have been stolen - ANSWER--broken glass on vehicle
-does LP match VIN
-is one plate displayed in a two-plate state
-does it have current reg, clean vehicle have dirty license plates and vice versa
-different license plates (states) front and back
Stolen Vehicle Recognition and Apprehension Manual for Patrol Officers - ANSWER--Obtain as complete a description as possible of any property stolen by suspect - detail of item, color, model, make, serial number, place of purchase, value, significant characteristics or marks.
-Estimate property values of stolen or recovered goods:
-The officer should obtain the victim's estimate of property value
Determining whether a vehicle has been impounded or repossessed in reported auto theft cases - ANSWER--find if property is linked with a previous crime by checking stolen reports, NCIC/TCIC, and from other jurisdictions
-time/date vehicle was found to be missing or stolen
-check with dispatch to see if vehicle is impounded
-check with lien holder of vehicle to determine repo
Homicides fall into 9 categories - ANSWER--anger
-revenge or jealousy
-triangle
-profit
-random
-drive
-murder-suicide
-sex and sadism
-felony murder
Anger killing - ANSWER--an extension of the crime of assault.
-Dispute-anger-attack-death (cycle of violence)
Revenge or jealousy killing - ANSWER--history of involvement between perpetrator and victim.
Triangle killing - ANSWER--husband or wife kills spouse who has involved himself/herself with another lover
Killing for profit - ANSWER--the elimination of another because it would result in profit for the murderer.
Random killing - ANSWER--seemingly motive-less.
-Most difficult to solve
Drive-by - ANSWER--shootings as a result of gang activity
Murder-suicide - ANSWER--actor kills another, then self
-Not uncommon among elderly and mentally distraught
Sex and Sadism - ANSWER--marked by unusual violence
-May follow rape, acts of sexual perversion, or sadistic acts
Felony murder - ANSWER--death results from injuries received during the commission of some other felony
In most homicide cases, the victim? - ANSWER--knows the perpetrator
All suspicious deaths should be treated as? - ANSWER--homicides until proven otherwise.
1 in _____ offenders are serving time for a sexual offense - ANSWER-7
There are a estimated __________________ on probation in Texas - ANSWER-22,000
CCP 62.02 Registration - ANSWER-a) The person shall satisfy the requirements of this subsection not later than the seventh day after the person's arrival in the municipality or county
Sexual Assault - ANSWER--acts of violence
-perps purpose is to exercise power over victim
-not crimes of sexual desire
4 Methods of Gaining Sexual Access to a person are? - ANSWER--Consent
-Pressure
-Force
-Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
Opportunistic Rapist - ANSWER--Takes advantage of the situation during commission
-Typically has been drinking or doing drugs
-Uses minimal force or threat
-Typically not a repeat offender
sadistic rapist - ANSWER--Aggression and violence are eroticized
-is symbolic destruction/elimination
-victim is symbolic of a person the offender wants to destroy
-calculated and pre-planned-
offender brings weapon
-is ritualistic
-torture is involved [Show Less]