Methods Of Investigations Flashcards
What is an example of intangible evidence?
A witness statement
What are the two categories of evidence?
Tangible and intangible
What is real evidence?
Evidence that speaks for itself
What is an example of real evidence?
Fingerprints, a gun, a tire print
What are the two basic rules of handling evidence?
1) Photograph and sketch crime scene before moving articles
2) Restrict handling to absolute minimum number of persons to shorten chain of evidence
What are the four rules of marking evidence?
1) Avoid obliterating evidence while marking
2) Use a distinctive mark where possible
3) Should include date evidence secured and location from where taken
4) Mark should be on item itself where possible
Before packing for shipment to a faraway lab, allow bloodstains to what?
Dry
Where should all suspected body fluid stains be submitted?
To laboratory
Articles of suspect and victim should not what?
Contact each other
In obtaining known specimens of hair from victim and/or suspect, you should submit at least how many hairs from various areas of the head?
50
Why should you never place loose fibers in a mailing envelope?
Because they are difficult to locate, and paper from which most envelopes are made contains fiber
What should be done in the case of headlights?
All glass remaining in the shell should be recovered
If soil is firmly attached to some object, what should be sent to the lab?
The object itself
What should be used to scrape paint samples off?
A clean knife blade
How should volatile liquids be handled?
They should be poured into a clean glass bottle and sealed tightly
Where should bullets be marked?
On the base
Where should cartridge cases be marked?
On the inside of the open end
Where should unfired ammunition be marked?
On the side of the cartridge case near the end of the bullet
How should a question document be put into evidence?
It should be sealed plastic or cellophane envelope
How should charred documents be placed into evidence?
They should be placed on top of loose cotton in a box and hand-delivered to the lab
What are the two methods of gathering information for people?
Interviews and interrogations
The questioning of a person who has or is believed to have information of relevant interest to the investigation
Interview
The questioning of a person suspected of having committed an offense, or a person who is reluctant to fully disclose information pertaining to the investigation
Interrogation or confrontational interview
The investigator may start with what then shift into what?
They may start with an interview and then shift into a confrontational interview
In an investigative interview, You should gain information to establish what?
The facts of an incident or recording
In an investigative interview, What should be verified?
Information received from other sources
In an investigative interview, Who should be identified?
1)
2)
1) Additional witnesses
2) Persons responsible for the event and/or accomplices
In an investigative interview, What should be secured?
Additional evidence
In an investigative interview, Background information on what should be developed?
The specifics of the event or offense
In an investigative interview, What should be eliminated?
Suspects
In an investigative interview, What should be discovered?
Details of other offenses
In an interview, What are the two stipulations regarding subject’s statements?
They must be free and voluntary
The interview must be conducted in what kind of a manner?
A manner in which an objective third-party to the interview is there
In an interview, party is free to what?
Leave
In an interview, you should position the interviewee how?
Within the confines of the interview area
How many people should conduct an interview, and why?
No more than two, so they don’t intimidate the interviewee
What needs to be considered regarding the interviewee personally?
Background, intelligence, education, biases, emotional state, medical condition
How should you communicate with the interviewee?
On a level that he/she can understand
What kind of physical activity should you pay attention to in your interviewee?
Fidgeting, nailbiting, foot or finger tapping
What kind of physiological activity should you keep an eye out for with your interviewee?
Eye blinking, dry mouth, perspiration
When an interviewee is reluctant to talk, what might this indicate?
The need to protect himself/herself or others
Responsiveness to certain questions may offer an indication of an interviewee’s need to what?
Relieve himself/herself of guilt
An interviewee’s responsiveness to certain questions may offer other motives for what?
Providing information
What are the six techniques of the investigator?
1) Establish a good rapport
2) Maintain eye contact
3) Do not jump to conclusions, maintain an open-mindedness
4) Listen attentively
5) Be perceptive to every comment
6) Maintain control of the interview
What kind of question should an investigator ask?
Open ended
As an investigator, silence can be used as a method of what?
Soliciting a response from the interviewee
How should you have the interviewee describe the events?
As a chronology, starting from the beginning of the incident
How should you test the truthfulness of the interviewee’s responses?
By asking questions to which you already know the answers
How should the investigator describe the incident or inquiry to the interviewee?
As very serious
Request the interviewee to _____ his/her version of the events
Repeat
When appropriate, _____ the interviewee with certain information that you have gathered during the course of your investigation
Confront
Maintain _____
Be ____ and _____
Maintain control
Be aggressive and fair
What are the three forms a written statement may be?
- Narrative
- Question and answer
- Combination
What are the two techniques most commonly used during an interrogation?
- Sympathetic
2. Logic and reasoning
What are the two main approaches used with interrogation?
Direct and indirect
What is an indirect approach?
Exploratory in nature
What is a direct approach?
Normally used to interrogate a suspect whose guilt is reasonably certain
What are the two best known types of devices to detect deception?
- Polygraph
2. Psychological stress evaluation
What are the four changes the polygraph records?
- Respiration
- Blood pressure
- Pulse
- Skin’s sensitivity to electricity
According to the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988, the polygraph may be used in the workplace if Employer is using polygraphs to assist in what?
Their ongoing investigation of certain kinds of workplace crimes
According to the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988, the polygraph may be used for pre-employment if The employer engages in providing certain kinds of what?
Security services
According to the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988, the polygraph may be used in the workplace if The employer engages in manufacturing, distribution or dispensing of certain kinds of what?
Controlled drugs
Polygraph examination is only as good as what?
The examiner
What are the three key points regarding the psychological stress evaluation test?
- Does not require body attachment
- Records and analyzes stress-related components of the human voice
- Maybe used with or without the knowledge of the individual being tested
The process of observing persons, places, or activities during the course of investigation
Surveillance
Surveillance can be either what or what?
Covert or overt
Results of a surveillance may be admitted into evidence in accordance with what?
Regular rules or evidence
What is the most difficult type of surveillance?
Moving surveillance
What are the two basic forms of surveillance?
- Physical surveillance
2. Technical surveillance
How is physical surveillance performed?
By humans
How is technical surveillance performed?
By technical and electronic equipment
What are the three kinds of moving surveillance?
- Keep subject under observation regardless of whether you are made
- Discreet surveillance (Discontinued as needed to keep from being made)
- Keep subject under observation at all times and do not get made
How should surveillance logs be treated?
Should be maintained and may be introduced into evidence
Surveillance is or is not expensive?
Is expensive
What are two other phrases for electronic surveillance?
Bugging or wiretapping
