Role of the OC Suspects in Homicide and Serious Crime Investigations Flashcards
Purpose of the OC Suspect
Full role of the OC Suspect is highlighted where the offender is not known and the identity becomes an priority.
OC Suspect is responsible for supervising the members of the Suspect Team for the purpose of:
- Obtaining information about the suspects and person of interest
- Thoroughly profile and investigate all suspects
- Seek evidence to cover all ingredients of offence
- Mitigate defences
- Providing basis for further investigation.
Management of Suspects into three categories:
- Identification and profiling
- Arrest/termination
- Interviewing.
Suspect Definition
A suspect is a person of interest who has gained added status because of a direct or indirect connection to the circumstances of the crime. Such a connection might relate to motive, opportunity or means.
Status is given by OC Investigation.
Responsibility of OC Suspects
Briefing the Suspect Team
The briefing should encompass:
- The circumstances of the offence including the analysis of the scene and witness evidence available.
- Full details of all persons of interest and suspects if known
- Details of any description of suspect provided by the witness
- Whether any modus operandi / crime signatures have been identified.
Determine Investigation Priorities
Investigate all suspect’s thoroughly in order of priority as decided in consultation with the OC Investigation.
Aspects that might influence the setting of priorities are:
- The relative weight of evidence against a person
- Likelihood of them leaving the area
- Availability of staff
Where there is no lines of suspect enquiry, priority should be given to anonymous information at the early stages of investigation. Information in relation to the suspect identity must be acted on immediately.
Providing Briefings and / Debriefings
OC Suspect must regularly debrief their team members on the enquiries conducted and the result of these enquiries to maintain a constant flow of information between all staff members. Priority information must be brought to OC Investigation.
Prepare Descriptions
FACES
Media Publicity and Property Duplicates
Photoboard
Prepare Descriptions:
- Analysis of witness interviews/statements will enable a schedule of descriptions to be distributed. e.g. Search, Area Canvass, Investigation Teams, Media (with approval of OC Investigations).
FACES:
- Consultation between OC Suspect and Witness
- Witnesses who saw the suspect to complete a FACE sketch (Facial Identification System used to compile the likeness of an offender though descriptions)
Media Publicity and Property Duplicates
- Consider seeking additional information or publicising the case through the media
- Obtain photographs of similar clothing and/or duplicates of items of property used by the suspect (Weigh benefits of additional information v risk of suspect disposing evidence)
- Photos of clothing or duplicates can be used: for media, area canvass, suspect enquiries.
Photoboard:
Should be set up displaying photos and details of suspects whom you:
- Have interviewed or
- Wish to interview
- FACE may be used where suspect is not known.
Trace, Interview and Eliminate (TIE) Enquiries
A TIE category is created by selecting a common characteristic shared by a group of people, which may include the offender. These group characteristic will depend on the circumstances of the crime, but examples might include persons related to or associated with the victim, person in the vicinity of the scene at the time of the offence, or with access to the scene at the time of the offence.
Suspect team to trace, interview, and eliminate against criteria set but OC Investigation.
Intelligence Categories
Research should aim to collect all information and attempt to establish or find:
- Place of work
- Medical records
- Lifestyle
- Marital status
- Intelligence that will enhance rapport building and interview process.
NOTE Refer all information obtainable in NIA
Sources of Information
Information of the Suspect may be acquired from:
- Financial/Bank records
- CCTV
- Personal computer information
- Telecommunication information
- Voice recording systems
- Customer/Subscriber information
- Access/Door security systems
- Vehicle GPS
- Toll records
- Cell phones
- Internet: social media, email, history.
Before Arrest / Termination
OC Suspect must consult with OC Investigation regarding arrest strategy to ensure:
- Investigator appointed for each suspect
- Choice of charges, in accordance to Solicitor General’s Prosecution Guidelines
- Bail
- Preparation of Prosecution File
- Engage Crown
- Compliance by Disclosure Manager
- Family of deceased are updated by FLO.
Preparing to Interview a Suspect
OC Suspect should:
- Liaise with OC Investigation on whether a level2 or level3 interviewer should be used
- Mode of recording: video/audio/written
- Status of the person (suspect/witness) and BOR
- Whether the person requires special consideration
- Consult with interviewing experts / legal advisors
- Ensure Interviewer fully briefed
- Ensure Interviewer trained in suspect interview IISG
- Ingredients required to be established
- Detailed interview plan prepared by interviewer.
Arrest & Executing Search Warrants
- As per usual arrest / search processes.
- Treat suspect/property/vehicle as a scene during search warrant and if practicable, have the suspect present.
- Seek explanation of evidence found and record response.
Medical Examination
OC suspect will arrange, in consultation with OC Investigation for a Police Doctor to examine the suspect.
The doctor must:
- Note any injuries, e.g. scratches and bruises
- Take Samples as identified as necessary by OC Investigation using a MEK: Blood, saliva, head hair, pubic or body hair (if applicable), fingernail scrapings, swab of suspect’s hands or relevant areas.
- Swab for firearms residue (may persist for up to 3 hours)
- Provide professional opinion on condition of the suspect and record any explanation or comments made by the suspect about the offence or cause of injury. Photograph injuries.
Psychiatric Evidence
Police investigation should aim to establish whether the suspect understood the nature and quality of their actions, and whether they understood the actions were morally wrong. For rebuttal of insanity.
A report must be sent to the Court Registrar describing:
- Circumstances of arrest
- Summary of offence charged
- Previous conviction history
- Previous mental health history
Suspect Alibi
OC Suspect must:
- Make enquiries of people other than the persons who’s particulars have bee supplied to confirm or rebut evidence in support of the alibi
- Complete enquiries to establish where the suspect was at the time of the offence, who they were with and what they were doing
- Corroboration of the alibi provided by the suspect should be sough from forensic or other sources that are independent of the suspect.
