NCJ Number
13407
Date Published
1974
Length
476 pages
Annotation
CONTEMPORARY LOOK AT POLICE PROCEDURE WHICH STRESSES THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE AND LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
Abstract
SEARCHING FOR AND COLLECTING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT CRIME SCENES AND INTERVIEWING WITNESSES ARE EXAMINED AS BASIC ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. BASIC INVESTIGATIVE LEADS ARE PRESENTED IN DETAIL TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IN WHICH THE CRIME AND ITS CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THE KEY EVENTS. EYEWITNESSES AND THE CORROBORATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF MOTIVE, OPPORTUNITY, AND MODUS OPERANDI ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. LABORATORY SERVICES, OTHER SCIENTIFIC AIDS, SURVEILLANCE, SOURCES OF INFORMATION, POLICE INTELLIGENCE, AND INTERROGATION ARE PRESENTED AS PROCEDURES IN LAW AND SCIENCE WITH STANDARDS OF REASONABLENESS AND SCIENTIFIC METHOD. ALL ASPECTS OF OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FUNCTION OF POLICE ARE FULLY COVERED FROM THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION TO THE PREPARATION OF THE CASE FOR REVIEW BY THE PROSECUTOR. THE POLICE APPREHENSION PROCESS, THE CONTINUING INVESTIGATION, AND THE FOCUSING OF THE CASE ARE HANDLED AS MAJOR SEGMENTS OF THIS FUNCTION. CHAPTERS COVER INVESTIGATIVE REPORT WRITING, INVESTIGATING ILLEGAL DRUGS AND NARCOTICS CASES, SEARCH WARRANTS AS AN TECHNIQUE OF INVESTIGATION, THE INVESTIGATION OF ROBBERY, THE INVESTIGATION OF ARSON, THE INVESTIGATION OF BURGLARY, AND THE INVESTIGATION OF HOMICIDE AND ASSAULTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)