CS Investigation Flashcards
There are two teams in a serious investigation
- Investigation - people making enquiries to solve case
2. Support - provides support resources for the investigation team
Two key tasks of any investigation
- Gathering and preserving evidence
2. Documentation
To maintain high standards in the investigation process you must:
- have an investigative mindset
- apply the appreciation technique
- consider your decisions under x examination
- ATD
- carry out assigned tasks efficiently
- importance of professionalism, integrity and objectivity in conduction investigations
- good communication skills
- work as a team
What are the 14 roles in a homicide investigation
O/C in charge immediate scene party O/C investigation 2ic investigation File manager Receptionist Logistics officer Exhibits officer O/C scene O/C body O/C general enquiries O/C area canvas O/C search O/C suspects O/C witnesses
What are the areas of responsibility for the immediate scene oc
Obtaining a search warrant The victim The scene The media Witnesses Suspects Co-ordinating with Comms and other homicide team members
What three things should be established in relation to the victim
The fact of death
Obvious injuries
Victims identity
8 things to do at a scene to prevent loss of evidence
Clear the scene Establish and maintain boundaries Guard the area Scene control Freeze scene and it's contents as you find them Preserve all evidence Observe what is happening at the scene and who is there Note and record all relevant details
4 things you should do with a witness at a scene
- Seperate them from one another to avoid contamination o collusion
- obtain full details
- ask them to remain at scene and co operate with police
- conduct a preliminary interview with each of them
9 things with suspects at a scene
- Seperate them from everyone
- ask them to remain at the scene and cooperate with police
- if they refuse, arrest them
- if arrested caution and give them their bill of rights
- if not arrested, but good cause to suspect, caution them, inform them of right to instruct lawyer, then
- with suspects informed consent, pursuant to arrest, under statutory power, search them and vehicle and belongings
- note suspects appearance and behaviour
- record any comments made by suspect, consider appropriate questions
- conduct a prelim interview when cib staff are unavailable
4 areas of responsibility for o/c investigation
Controlling
Organising
Planning
Directing
OC INVESTIGATION
9 things e o/c should do at his first visit to the scene
- assume control of the operation
- find out info about body
- make a reconnaissance and initial reconstruction
- confirm boundaries of crime scene
- if on private property obtain authorisation of warrant under sec 198 Summary Proceedings Act 1957
- preserve evidence related to the body
- accompany pathologist and other specialist during their examinations, discuss your reconstruction with them
- make arrangements for further action at scene
- make a brief media statement
OC INVESTIGATION
What appointments must o/c make at scene
- o/c scene, if more than one, o/c for each scene
- o/c body
- o/c exhibits
OC INVESTIGATION
At scene what does O/C investigation need to establish about the body
- has body been moved
- has body been identified
- has death been certified
OC INVESTIGATION
What must O/C do before body is moved
- notes are taken, as detailed in o/c body section
- sketch plan of body position and scene is made
- crime scene is photographed and videoed
- body position is outlined with waterproof substance
OC INVESTIGATION
List 17 duties of the O/C on return to station
- confer with 2ic over,
- how the investigation headquarters is working out
- appointment of all staff required at headquarters such as file managers, receptionist, word processing staff
- best method of managing files
- staff required
- setting up organisation chart
- admin and logistics requirements
- arranging conferences at end of day
- before initial meeting and with the 2ic - appoint
- o/c suspects
- o/c general enquiries
- o/c area canvass
- o/c search
- file manager
- media liaison officer
- logistics officer
- intelligence analyst
- staff for enquiry team
OC INVESTIGATION
What must O/C cover at initial briefing
- Tell all team members what is known about the situation and the circumstances
- allocate tasks
OC INVESTIGATION
Before post morgen begins what must O/C ensure
- body identified and NOK informed
- post Mortimer authorised by coroner
- any suspect charged has been informed about the post-mortem so they can be represented by their MD and their lawyer advised
- body has been photographed and fingerprinted
- pathologist has been given pol 144 form for guidance
- coroner has given authority for body to be released
OC INVESTIGATION
What specialist results must be obtained
- fingerprints
- photographs
- ESR analysis
- pathology reports and tests
- department of survey and land information plans
OC INVESTIGATION
7 duties of the O/C prior to arrest
Together with 2ic and crown prosecutor evaluate,
- witness statements
- evidence - all exhibits, photos, id, murder weapon etc
- specialist results - cause of death etc
- results of interview with suspect
- results of search of suspects person, home, car, business etc
- offenders mental state - consider psychiatric evaluation
OC INVESTIGATION
O/C duties after arrest
- Ensure prosecution part file is done
- inform deputy commissioner, operations of arrest
- engage crown solicitor
- make sure enquiries are done to,
- corroborate the accused statement
- negate possible defences
- obtain all incriminating evidence
- make sure all jobs, tasks, specialist results are obtained and debrief investigation team
The purpose of a debrief is to (3things)
- examine and evaluate the inquiry
- analyse any mistakes that were made
- or things that could have been done better
Two key tasks of a homicide are
- documentation
- preservation of evidence
In relation to documentation what was held in r v wickliffe
Job sheets are subject to the official information act 1982
Area canvass questionnaires which statement is correct
Part B is completed in duplicate for each person interviewed