Assignment 1: Crime Scene Investigation

Q1

When conducting a preliminary investigation into any criminal case there are certain guidelines that should be observed. First, the crime scene should be preserved by the patrol officer and hold all witnesses or suspects. They should also discourage phone usage at the crime scene and all personnel accounting should be made for all activities where identification of persons should be conducted (Hess, Orthmann & Cho, 2016). The preservation of the crime area is done to preserve the integrity of the evidence. Upon arrival to the crime scene, the investigators should not move blindly and they should confer before acting. Paths of entry and exit should be considered and an initial survey conducted. The officers should also ascertain whether there is fragile evidence and how it should be collected. In addition, an investigator should also observe the whole place wholly as well as record the time and place of the event (Hess, Orthmann & Cho, 2016).

Q2

One key approach that an investigator should use so that he/she can perform a competent investigation should involve an inclusive, effective and efficient interrogation with the witness as well as persuade a later interview communication with the relevant personnel.  The strategy of a complete, effective and efficient is significant as it will create an opportunity for any witness to give information voluntarily without prompting (Hess, Orthmann & Cho, 2016). The voluntary information is in most cases is usually accurate compared to that of witnesses who have been questioned or those who have been forcefully questioned. I believe that it is an essential tool that can result in great success in the follow-up investigation because witness gives out relevant information without withholding any.  It is also important to encourage communication with the witness so that they may feel free with open-ended questions that will yield unsolicited information to the investigator (Beers, 2011). The use of nonverbal communication skills as well as asking the witness to recreate the happening of the event may result in more information that may be helpful. It is also important to discourage the witness from discussing with anyone details about the information in order to avoid cases of evidence and information contamination.

Q3

Sudden death in a hospital and a rape case are crimes that are reported differently. Sudden death can be considered to be unnatural, unexpected or unexplained give the condition the person was at the time of death. In the case of unnatural death in hospital doctors and the nurses in charge are supposed to record a statement of when the death occurred and the conditions that led to the patient death. Security personnel also on duty are supposed to record the happening of the fateful day and also identify if there was any suspicious character of a new face that came along (Hess, Orthmann & Cho, 2016). CCTV footage can also be used in order to trace the movement of people in and out of the hospital. Deaths are reported under the Coroners Act to the Coroner in addition to other local rules which mandatorily requires all form of deaths to be reported. In this case, the cause of death should be certified by a forensic team as well as a pathologist. In a rape case, the victim or any other person should be able to contact the 911 as soon as possible. They should wait for the medical team to arrive and take them to the hospital without contaminating any evidence on them (Beers, 2011). The team should also fill up information about the victim which the doctor is supposed to fill after examining the victim by recording it. After the victim is conscious the investigator should ask the victim some questions that would help in the investigation.

Q4

An effective criminal investigator should have been the ability to obtain relevant information and be able to retain it well for a particular case. Despite the ability, the investigator should also have effective communication skills that will facilitate the process of obtaining information (Brandl, 2004). With communication skills, people will feel more comfortable which will make them be willing to share all the information. Being emotionally balanced is a critical characteristic that an investigator should have. This ensures that the investigator is not carried away by emotions as it will hinder the whole process of investigation and crucial leads may not be noticed. An open-minded investigator will be able to notice any prejudice tend which will help in avoiding personal judgment without facts (Brandl, 2004).

Q5

It is true to say that media outlets have been allowed too much information of crimes of potential suspects, police investigation, and surveillance. With such information at the disposal of the public many innocent people have been considered to be guilty of various crimes due to personal judgment of the public resulting in suicide by the innocent suspect (Beers, 2011). I believe that information regarding crimes should be well handled and a balance. This will ensure that privacy rights are withheld and the integrity of the investigation body is also upheld. Therefore there is also the need of limiting access of information to the media outlets.

 

 

 

Reference

Beers, D. A. (2011). Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases. CRC Press.

Brandl, S. G. (2004). Criminal investigation: An analytical perspective. Boston: Pearson.

Hess, K.M., Orthmann, C. H., & Cho, H.L. (2016). Criminal Investigation. Cengage Learning