Final Flashcards
People may have knowledge about…
a crime or a perpetrator and not even know it
The police have to use strategies like tip lines, television shows, and special alerts to…
identify and obtain information from these individuals who may have knowledge about a crime or a perpetrator and not even know it
Tip lines are…
an easy and convenient way for citizens to share information with the police through the use of a telephone or the internet
Crime Stoppers offer
cash rewards for information leading to an individual’s arrest
Television shows like America’s Most Wanted disseminate…
information about unsolved crimes with the intention that the public will have information regarding the crimes and contact the authorities (Many times these cases have a description of the perpetrator)
AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) was created to…
Disseminate information about child abduction to enlist the public’s help in locating the child quickly and safely
To broadcast an AMBER Alert, investigators need:
A confirmation that there has been a child abduction,
There is reason to believe that the child is in danger and that there is enough reliable information about the facts of the case
The theory is the children abducted by strangers are…
harmed quickly (within the first three hours)
Amber Alerts are designed for stranger abductions, which are…
rare
Most Amber Alerts result in a child recovery, but the…
AMBER Alert had nothing to do with the recovery
AMBER Alert involving a stranger abduction is…
less likely to result in the recovery of the child
Where there is a child recovery, only…
17% was within six hours of the abduction
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) send…
“Have you seen me?” mailings
Individual police agencies have “most wanted” lists through…
crime alerts, media, billboards, and “FaceCrook” (a computer application available to inmates)
These strategies for Information Disseminating have limitations
Information can be overwhelming
False Information
How to distribute reward money fairly?
Credibility and motivation of citizens contributing information
The publicity of the case may affect a witness’ perceptions
Should money be paid for someone performing what is arguably someone’s civic duty?
Confidential informants are
those who actively assist law enforcement in an ongoing capacity (Controversial and Considered a necessary evil)
Four types of informants
The hammered informant is coerced by the police
The mercenary informant is motivated by money
The vengeful informant is motivated by revenge
The police buff informant is a fan of the police
Gang members are disproportionately involved in
crime, therefore they are constantly a problem for law enforcement.
Law enforcement has developed gang task forces as a
response to the increasing issue of gangs
What criteria characterizes a gang?
Three or more members
Share an identity
View themselves as a gang and are recognized by others as one
Has a level or permanence and some organization
Involved in a high level of criminal activity
Gang member identification is through
name, colors or symbols, graffiti, tattoos, clothing, and hand symbols
Crime analysis involves the collection and
analysis of data pertaining to a criminal incident, offender, and target.
Crime analysis can inform patrol allocation decisions and make
predictions of future occurrences for preventative purposes.
Crime analysis is based on the idea that crime is
a non-random phenomenon
The use of GIS and COMPSTAT help
the police identify patterns to develop policing strategies
ViCAP(Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) is a
a national computer database system that is operated by the FBI to identify the MO or signature aspects of crimes for the purpose of identifying crimes that are committed by the same person
Three types of crimes are focused on
Solving or unsolved homicides or attempted homicides
Missing persons where foul play was suspected
Unidentified bodies where the cause of death was suspected to be homicide
ViCAP is used to overcome linkage blindness on behalf of law enforcement who are unable to identify
serial crimes due to jurisdictional boundaries
Limitations ViCAP of include
ViCAP is not effective when the MO is not similar or there is missing information
ViCAP has little to do with solving crimes
Crimes have to be in the database in order to be useful
Intradepartmental databases are operated by individual
Law enforcement agencies for their own investigators’ use.
Interdepartmental agencies share information across law enforcement agencies
NCIC: the largest crime information network in the U.S.
NLETS: (JANET-PA) Network that links law enforcement with a motor vehicle and licensing departments
ICTS
CIS
Sentry
Equifax
Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist
Investigators can find information
YouTube (VARIOUS OTHERS)
Many people post videos of them partaking in illegal activities
All death can be classified in one of four ways (the manner of death)
Natural causes (the most common)
Accidents
Suicides
Homicides
In determining the manner of death, investigators must consider
The cause of death
The characteristics of the decedent
The circumstances of the death
Indicators of Suicide
The presence of a weapon
Wounds that could have been self-inflicted
A lack of defensive wounds
The presence of a suicidal motive
Offensive/Defense Wound
Knife slash on criminal
Bruises on the ribs, back
Autoerotic deaths- Deaths usually involve a…
solo sexual activity went wrong, where the individual dies as a result of asphyxia
Indicators of this accidental death(Autoerotic death)
The arrangement of a self-rescue system Evidence of solo sexual activity Evidence of sexual fantasy aids Evidence of the prior autoerotic presence No apparent suicidal attempt
Patterns are…
Characteristics of Homicides
Murder can be defined as
the willful killing of one person by another
- Most victims and perpetrators share the same characteristics
- Least committed crime, relatively infrequent
- Most often, homicides occur as a result of an argument of the commission of another felony (felony murders)
- Most victims and perpetrators know each other prior to the incident
- Firearms are the most commonly used weapon
- Highest clearest rate
Death investigations usually begin…
where the body was found
Three basic questions that need to be answered in a death investigation
Who is the decedent?
What was the cause of death?
Who committed the murder?
Witnesses, relatives, and friends may be present to…
inform investigators of this (Who is the decedent?)
A person’s possessions can…
also, identify a victim
Scientific methods like DNA, fingerprints and anthropological facial reconstruction may…
help identify the decedent as well
Gunshot wounds as a result of firearms
Shell casing, the presence of entrance and exit wounds, the distance of the gun from the body (contact, close, distant), the amount of trauma sustained, the location of the trauma, and gunshot residue are important features in firearm deaths
Cutting wounds involve
the slicing of tissue with smooth edges
Stab and puncture wounds will
present holes in the tissue
Blunt force trauma is characterized by
irregular or rough-edged laceration, bruising, and broken bones
Poisoning most often occurs
accidentally but can be as a result of a suicide
Asphyxia is when
a person is unable to breathe due to any action or material, Petechial hemorrhaging
Asphyxia can occur in form of manual strangulation (with hands)
ligature strangulation (such as a rope), hanging, suffocation (smothering), or drowning
Drug overdoses are often about
determining who supplied the drugs to the victim
Drugs can be introduced into the body intravenously…
intramuscularly, orally, rectal/vaginally, through inhalation, subcutaneously, and sublingually
Death via fire
is challenging
Most often fire deaths are a result of
smoke inhalation, not from the fire itself
To identify perpetrators
- Circumstances of the incident and characteristics of the victim can be crucial
- Establishing a motive
- Physical evidence on the victim’s body or at the crime scene
- Establishing the time of death can be essential for it can be compared to a suspect’s alibi
The postmortem interval (PMI) guesses the…
Time of death through the changes a body goes through after death
- Potassium levels in the vitreous humor
- Contents of the victim’s gastrointestinal tract
- The degree of decomposition
- Insect and animal activity
Algor mortis refers to the
the cooling process of the body - loss of heat by a body
Liver Mortis (postmortem lividity) refers to
the blood pooling of the body
Rigor mortis refers to
the rigidity of the body
An insect’s presence, stage of…
development and contents of their gut are particularly useful
Information from an autopsy is useful in
determining the cause and manner of death
An autopsy consists of two parts:
The external examination consists of the opening of the chest, abdominal cavity, pelvic cavity, and the skull
Investigating homicides that are suspected as being a part of a series…
appear as random and lack a traditional motive. This makes them difficult to solve
Serial killers are mobile…
and they plan well in advance
Several law enforcement agencies may be involved which complicate the investigation
VICAP
Task forces are often developed to address this issue
Homicides with certain characteristics are more likely to be solved within
24 hours. If a case does not have those characteristics, it may not be solved
Some cases get pushed aside due to
caseload and time pressures
Cold case investigations provide new eyes
on old cases
There are three types of cold cases
- Cases that are reopened due to outside pressure
- Cases that are reopened due to the availability of previously untested evidence- DNA
- Cases that are reopened when a person confesses or a witness comes forward
Cold cases are difficult to solve because investigators often face
Uncooperative witnesses
Difficulty locating witnesses
Decrease suspects
DNA results that do not lead anywhere
Cold cases are more likely to be solved if:
It is a recent crime
It did not involve drugs
The victim was found in a private residence
The victim was a young male
There was a known motivation for the crime
A prime suspect had earlier been identified
Forcible rape refers to
the penetration of the vagina or anus with a body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person without the consent of the victim (UCR), most are planned
It’s not about the sex
it’s about the power and control
(Sexual Assult) Victims are
young female typically
(Sexual Assult) Offenders are usually
white, adult males
(Sexual Assult) A majority of sexual assaults occur between
people who know each other
(Sexual Assult) The most important investigative information comes from the…
victim, either through interviews or through forensic medical examination of the victim
Sexual assault is the most…
traumatic type of criminal victimization
(Sexual Assult) Victims tend to have a wide variety of emotions and behaviors and should be approached
carefully and considerately as a result
Large number of sexual assaults go
unreported
(Sexual Assult) First responders should:
Be continually supportive of the victim
Approach victims calmly
Interview victims with extreme sensitivity
Minimize the amount of times a victim has to share their story
Ask the victim whether they prefer a male or female officer conduct the interview
Have only one officer assigned to the interviews
Remember that it is normal for the victim to forget, or want to forget, the incident
Encourage the victims to get medical treatment
Encourage the victims to obtain counseling
(Sexual Assult) Interviewing the victim should:
Be minimized as much as possible
Have only one officer conduct all interviews
Should not be conducted like an interrogation (cognitive process)
Involve the victim as much as possible
Be responsive and receptive
Give some control to the victim
Consist of mostly listening
Be conducted with professional language
Obtain a healthy balance of difficult questions and ones that understand what the victim is going through
Focus on the violence of the incident, not the sexuality of the crime
Show sensitivity in obtaining detailed information
Conclude with informing the victim of what to expect next
The victim and perpetrator know each other
Document injuries, the use of a weapon, the circumstances of the crime, and the age of the victim
(Sexual Assult) The victim and the perpetrator do not know each other but the victim has
described the perpetrator
(Sexual Assult) The perpetrator was a stranger and the victim was unable to provide a
sufficient description
(Sexual Assult) In these situations, it is important that the investigators ask question regarding the MO or
signature of the perpetrator as well as the nature of circumstances of the attack
(Sexual Assult) Physical evidence can confirm and identify a
perpetrator and establish the elements of the crime
In a sexual assault, the victim’s body is considered a crime scene for SANEs
(Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) to document injuries and recover evidence
(Sexual Assult) Physical evidence may also be present at the actual
crime scene as well
“Date rape” drugs are said to
facilitate rape
Rohypnol is a
tranquilizer that is tasteless and odorless
Gamma-hydroxybutyraye (GHB) is a
nervous system depressant is commonly referred to as “liquid ecstasy”
Rape suspects may be required to undergo a
a forensic examination
Forcible rape refers to
the penetration of the vagina or anus with a body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person without the consent of the victim (UCR), most are planned
It’s not about the sex
it’s about the power and control
(Sexual Assult) Victims are
young female typically
(Sexual Assult) Offenders are usually
white, adult males
(Sexual Assult) A majority of sexual assaults occur between
people who know each other
(Sexual Assult) The most important investigative information comes from the…
victim, either through interviews or through forensic medical examination of the victim
Sexual assault is the most…
traumatic type of criminal victimization
(Sexual Assult) Victims tend to have a wide variety of emotions and behaviors and should be approached
carefully and considerately as a result
Large number of sexual assaults go
unreported
(Sexual Assult) First responders should:
Be continually supportive of the victim
Approach victims calmly
Interview victims with extreme sensitivity
Minimize the amount of times a victim has to share their story
Ask the victim whether they prefer a male or female officer conduct the interview
Have only one officer assigned to the interviews
Remember that it is normal for the victim to forget, or want to forget, the incident
Encourage the victims to get medical treatment
Encourage the victims to obtain counseling
(Sexual Assult) Interviewing the victim should:
Be minimized as much as possible
Have only one officer conduct all interviews
Should not be conducted like an interrogation (cognitive process)
Involve the victim as much as possible
Be responsive and receptive
Give some control to the victim
Consist of mostly listening
Be conducted with professional language
Obtain a healthy balance of difficult questions and ones that understand what the victim is going through
Focus on the violence of the incident, not the sexuality of the crime
Show sensitivity in obtaining detailed information
Conclude with informing the victim of what to expect next
The victim and perpetrator know each other
Document injuries, the use of a weapon, the circumstances of the crime, and the age of the victim
(Sexual Assult) The victim and the perpetrator do not know each other but the victim has
described the perpetrator
(Sexual Assult) The perpetrator was a stranger and the victim was unable to provide a
sufficient description
(Sexual Assult) In these situations, it is important that the investigators ask question regarding the MO or
signature of the perpetrator as well as the nature of circumstances of the attack
(Sexual Assult) Physical evidence can confirm and identify a
perpetrator and establish the elements of the crime
Aggravated assaults have a
a relatively high clearance rate
(Sexual Assult) Physical evidence may also be present at the actual
crime scene as well
“Date rape” drugs are said to
facilitate rape
Rohypnol is a
tranquilizer that is tasteless and odorless
Gamma-hydroxybutyraye (GHB) is a
nervous system depressant is commonly referred to as “liquid ecstasy”
Rape suspects may be required to undergo a
a forensic examination
There are different types of rapists. Knowing these help
identify successful themes in interrogations
(Child abuse) Characteristics of the crime
The risk of physical abuse decreases with age
The risk of neglect decreases with age
Children at highest risk for sexual victimization between 7 and 12
Offenders of the crime vary
(Child abuse) It is important to determine whether injuries sustained by an individual is a result of an
accident or abuse
(Child abuse) Investigators must also understand a child’s
unique needs
(Child abuse) Investigators must be aware that child abuse almost always occurs
in private
(Child abuse) Investigators of child abuse often require the help of a local
child protective agency
The anger excitation rapist commits rape to
inflict pain
False Rape Allegations very
rarely
Some possible motives for falsely reporting a rape are:
To seek revenge To get attention To receive medical treatment To create an alibi For-profit To be favored in child custody decisions To explain a pregnancy or contraction of an STD
A simple assault includes
all other types of assaults that do not involve a weapon or serious injuries
The investigator must also make efforts to offset any
guilt that the child victim may experience
(Simple assault) Typically committed by
young males
Aggravated assault refers to
an attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe bodily injury (this includes attempted murder)
Aggravated assault is the most
common index violent crime
(Aggravated assault) Young males typically
commit it
(Aggravated assault) Half of the aggravated assault victims know
the perpetrator
Aggravated assaults have a
a relatively high clearance rate
The identification of the perpetrator is not an issue in domestic violence. Arrest as a result of this identification unfortunately
has not proven to be effective
Domestic violence involves assaultive behaviors among
current or former intimate partners.
(Domestic violence) Restraining orders are an option for victims, though the crime is still
underreported
Why do victims resist leaving an abuser?
Cycle of violence Battered women syndrome Stockholm syndrome Traumatic bonding theory Psychological entrapment theory Multifactor ecological perspective
(Child abuse) The identification of the perpetrator again is not an
the issue in these investigations
Child abuse may involve
physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as well as neglect. Neglect is the most common form of child abuse
(Child abuse) Characteristics of the crime
The risk of physical abuse decreases with age
The risk of neglect decreases with age
Children at highest risk for sexual victimization between 7 and 12
Offenders of the crime vary
It is important to determine whether injuries sustained by an individual is a result of an
accident or abuse
Investigators must also understand a child’s
unique needs
Investigators must be aware that child abuse almost always occurs
in private
Investigators of child abuse often require the help of a local
child protective agenc
The interview must be child
friendly
The interviewer must recognize the developmental capabilities of children at different
ages
The interviewer must practice
patience
The interviewer must avoid
“why” question
The investigator must also make efforts to offset any
guilt that the child victim may experience
(The Robber’s Approach to the Victim) Convenience store robbers
Take the straight approach (go to the clerk right away to demand the money) or the customer approach (pretend to be a customer)
Robbery is the second most common
violent crime and one of the worst clearance rates because the victim and perpetrator are strangers and there is a little physical evidence
“Muggings” are robberies involving
strong-arm tactics like the use of a gun
Types of Robberies
Street robberies
Commercial robberies
Vehicle-related robberies
Home-invasion robberies
More of a focus on robbery prevention strategies than robbery
apprehension strategies due to a lack of evidence available
Evidence that may be helpful in the apprehension of burgularies
Hold-up alarms
Eyewitness identification
An offender’s MO
The value of hold-up alarms lies in their ability to
stir a quick police response while the crime is in progress. The faster the response time, the more likely the perpetrator will be apprehended
Robbers are likely to use the same words are phrases in the commission
of a crime
(Police response procedure) Investigators should assume that the perpetrator is (in robberies and such)
armed and that there is more than one perpetrator
(Police response procedure) Nothing should be done to create
anxiety in the perpetrator
Eyewitness identification is the best evidence available to
investigators in robberies
A composite picture of the perpetrator/s and or the getaway car should be
advertised so the police can obtain information through tip lines
Closed Circuit Television security surveillance camera videos can be
essential in identifying the perpetrator
Closed Circuit Television security surveillance camera videos may be of poor quality or robbers are aware of
their presence, and plan accordingly
An MO can link robberies to
one offender, clear crimes, or provide further clues to the characteristics of the offender
The following are things to examine to determine an offender’s MO
Targets Robber’s approach to the victim The language sed Discovery of a weapon Disguises
Targets that are unguarded, in a robber’s familiar geographic zone where escape routes are known and clear to the offender are the
most attractive targets for an offender.
Residential burglaries are
the most common
(The Robber’s Approach to the Victim) Confrontations
Verbal demands of money or money or property from the victim, with the threat of force is necessary
(The Robber’s Approach to the Victim) Blitzes
When the offender uses violence first to gain compliance
(The Robber’s Approach to the Victim) Con Man (Cons)
When the offender uses a distraction first to surprise the victim with the demand
(The Robber’s Approach to the Victim) Snatch-thefts
When there is no communication or interaction
(The Robber’s Approach to the Victim) Convenience store robbers
Take the straight approach (go to the clerk right away to demand the money) or the customer approach (pretend to be a customer)
(Robbers) The nature of the demand can be
unique to the offender
(Robbers) The identification of a weapon used in the commission of the crime is
valuable info
The disguise that a robber uses is also valuable
Why the need for a disguise?
What feature is trying to be covered up?
One common form of physical evidence sometimes found in bank robbery investigations is that of a
dye pack
Overall however, robberies have little
physical evidence available
Robberies are all about the
money
Burglars can obtain information about their target through the perpetrator’s own observations as well as their
relationship with the target
(Property Taken) The money is often spent immediately after being
stolen and never recovered by the police
A common piece of property taken is that of a cell phone
This is done to prevent the victim from calling the police
The cell phone also possesses a monetary value
When interrogating robbery suspects, the most effective approach is
a non-emotional approach because robbers are generally angry, hostile, and desperate
Monitor the whereabouts of convicted robbers because
they often reoffend
The use of bait money in
bank and commercial robbery investigations
Publicize information on high profile suspects so that
tip lines can be used
Burglaries do not require
force compared to robberies
A burglary is defined as the
unlawful entry of a building to commit a felony or theft without permission. Use of force to gain entry is not necessary
Burglaries are
frequent and serious
Physical evidence in burglary scenes are often in the
form of tool markers at the point of entry or exit
Nonresidential burglaries occur at
night
Few burglaries are
solved and seldom is property recovered
Often, burglars steal cash or
property that can easily and quickly be converted into cash
Burglaries are often discovered
well after the crime has taken place and the perpetrator has fled
Burglaries are difficult to solve because:
Investigators don’t always know when the crime occurred
Little information is available from witnesses/victims
Physical evidence may not be found
Stolen property is often discarded
What makes a good burglary investigation?
Physical evidence and eyewitnesses
The stolen property
Other witnesses and information
The perpetrator’s MO
Burglar alarms may help prevent but not apprehend because burglar alarms:
Can be easily foiled by burglars
Often give false alarms
Burglars often avoid these homes
The police’s first must verify the entry and whether a
perpetrator is inside the structure still (“clear” the building)
VINs are a series of
letters and numbers unique to each car. Stolen vehicle VINs are entered in NCIC
After that, the police should conduct a
neighborhood canvass
A burglar’s MO can be determined through:
Inferences regarding the chosen target
The perpetrator’s method of entry
The type of property taken or not taken
The amount of planning it probably took the offender to pull it off
How the perpetrator searched for property
Burglars can obtain information about their target through the perpetrator’s own observations as well as their
relationship with the target
2 out of 3 burglaries involve
forced entry
Forced entries can be through
screwdrivers or crowbars or through the breaking of windows and doors.
When forced entry is not used, the structure was
open or unlocked
Burglars can be categorized into 3 levels of experience:
A professional burglar
A novice burglar
A mid-range burglar
Of the perpetrator did not ransack the palace, he/she is likely
familiar with the building
CRAVED defines the type of items commonly stolen by burglars
Concealable Removable Available Valuable Enjoyable Disposable
A lot of solved burglars are due to the
identification and recovery of stolen property
Stealing property is largely to support a
drug habit
There are 6 ways in which money is quickly converted into cash
Sell the property to a friend or relative
Trade the property for drugs
Sell the property to a professional fence
Sell the stolen property toa pawnshop or second-hand store
Sell the property to strangers
Keep the property for themselves
Physical evidence in burglary scenes are often in the
form of tool markers at the point of entry or exit
Despite the benefits of collecting DNA to identify a perpetrator, it is often not done because the process is too
expensive
(Burglary Investigations) Informants may come forward with
info
Many burglars commit more than one crime, so it is important to determine
the extent of burglaries in which a burglar is responsible for
Motor vehicle theft is when
an individual steals or attempts to steal an automobile, truck, bus, motorcycle, snowmobile, or motor scooter
Most involve automobiles and are stolen by
juveniles for the purpose of “joyriding”
Motor vehicle theft has
Low clearance rates because they are difficult to solve, They often have no witness or physical evidence
The best chance at apprehension is when the vehicle is located with the
perpetrator in it, through this is rare
Indicators that a vehicle may be stolen
Vehicles being operated without ignition keys
A broken steering column
Broken windows
The car has parts that are not consistent with the rest of the car
VINs on a vehicle that do not match
License plates that do not register to the vehicle they are on
VINs are a series of
letters and numbers unique to each car. Stolen vehicle VINs are entered in NCIC
LPRs are
cameras attached to squad cars that can identify stolen vehicles
Methods used to commit vehicle theft
Hot-wiring a car
Stealing keys from a parking lot attendant
Towing the car away
Partaking in a bump and run
Obtaining the ignition code number from the vehicle to make a duplicate key
Motivations for committing vehicle theft:
Joyriding and Profit
Motivations for committing vehicle theft: Profit
Vehicle reported as stolen by owner for insurance benefits
Selling cars overseas
Stripped for parts at a “chop shop”
Evidence and investigative Strategies of Vehicle Theft- Physical Evidence
A stolen vehicle must be processed for fingerprints and DNA
Evidence and investigative Strategies of Vehicle Theft- Eyewitnesses
Are rare, but can be incredibly beneficial to these investigations
Evidence and investigative Strategies of Vehicle Theft- Surveillance cameras
Cars parked in parking lots are most vulnerable to theft but the theft may be caught on surveillance video
Evidence and investigative Strategies of Vehicle Theft- Bait car investigative strategy
A bait car is a way to apprehend auto thieves through the presentation of an opportunity for theft
Evidence and investigative Strategies of Vehicle Theft- Investigative task forces
Auto theft task forces are created to identify and apprehend auto thieves through the effort of multiple agencies
