home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Hackers Underworld 2: Forbidden Knowledge
/
Hackers Underworld 2: Forbidden Knowledge.iso
/
LEGAL
/
MAR90_1.TXT
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1990-04-26
|
18KB
|
326 lines
March 1990
THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION PROCESS
By
Chief Gordon F. Urlacher
and
Lt. Robert J. Duffy
Rochester, New York, Police Department
The ability to conduct an effective preliminary
investigation is the foundation on which the entire criminal
investigation process is built. Preliminary investigations are
most effective when the officer views the work as a process
rather than as a series of simple mechanical tasks. This
approach also provides a guide for first responding officers to
select appropriate initial investigative procedures. Rarely are
two crimes identical; so, there cannot always be a standardized
set of procedures to follow in each and every case. But, by
remaining creative and flexible, the officer can be responsive to
the various factors which inevitably arise during a criminal
investigation. Therefore, all police administrators and managers
should concern themselves not only with how this process is being
conducted within their respective departments but also what
training and improvements could be used to ensure maximum
results.
The primary training concern for management in this area
should be to prioritize the first responding officer's options,
so that the total time spent on the investigation can be
minimized and the results maximized. The recommended procedures
set forth in this article are based on the Rochester, NY, Police
Department's research into the preliminary investigation process,
with specific emphasis on identifying the investigative
strategies that were most effective in solving crimes. These
procedures do not deal with every conceivable type of
investigation, but they will ensure that investigations will have
an increased chance of reaching their objectives--crime
identification, crime solution and apprehension, and successful
prosecution.
Five hundred cleared burglaries were studied to determine
which factors, such as witness identification of a suspect and/or
vehicle, fingerprint identification, or a random search, led to
the solution of the crime. Through this research, (1) those
investigative strategies, which proved to be most productive,
were identified.
This research also concluded that the success of criminal
investigations can be greatly improved by implementing a new
overall preliminary investigation strategy. Thus, the
preliminary investigation becomes a police department's first
step and can determine the department's overall success rate in
solving crimes.
OBJECTIVES
The preliminary investigation is the police agency's first
response to a report that a crime was committed. As in every
investigative effort, the primary objective is to determine who
committed the crime and to apprehend that person. Therefore, the
first responding officer collects evidence which will help
identify the individual responsible for the crime and which will
lead to the subsequent arrest and conviction of that person.
Unfortunately, this simple, but extremely vital, objective is
often forgotten.
All too often, the first responding officer acts as nothing
more than a mechanical report taker, when, in fact, such reports
are vital to the preliminary investigation. Every police officer
who conducts these investigations should remember that this work,
completed during the early stages, uncovers much of the usable
and pertinent information regarding that particular case.
FRAMEWORK
The framework of the preliminary investigation is based upon
several major areas which the first responding officer must
address. Completing the activities within these areas is the
objective of the preliminary investigation and will help guide
the first responding officer. The first step is to decide if an
offense has actually occurred. The second step is to identify
the victim and the time and place in which the crime took place.
Then, the officer should identify any solvability factors that
could lead to the successful conclusion of the investigation. A
solvability factor is information about a crime which can provide
the basis for determining who committed the crime.
Determining if an Offense Has Occurred
The preliminary investigation begins when the call to
respond has been received. At this time, the officer should
verify that the offense has actually occurred and should become
mentally prepared prior to arriving on the scene. The officer
should also formulate questions to be asked, as well as decide
which response factors are appropriate to the type of crime that
was committed. The responding officer should also keep a
watchful eye for any suspicious activity while en route to the
scene.
It is always good practice for the first responding officer
to make a quick, visual survey of the scene upon arrival. Then,
the officer should determine if there are any injuries and
identify and locate the witnesses in the event that the suspect
has already fled the scene. In addition, the officer must always
take measures to ensure that all remain at the scene until they
can each be interviewed.
Identifying and Assisting the Victim
Another initial task in the preliminary investigation is to
identify the victim. This can be relatively simple since the
victim is usually the complainant and the first person the
officer approaches. In many instances, such as in cases
involving burglary, the victim provides the most useful
information; however, for those victims who have been assaulted
or robbed, the information given may have limited value because
of the effect of traumatization.
To be a victim of crime, no matter how insignificant it may
seem, is often an extremely traumatic experience. Therefore,
sensitivity and nonjudgmental support from the preliminary
investigator will not only help calm the victim but will also
enable the officer to establish rapport and will make the job of
collecting information much easier. Once rapport has been
established, the officer should proceed with a specific line of
questioning that will help obtain the information needed to solve
the crime.
The first responding officer should also document the crime
by asking the following questions:
* Was the lapse of time between the crime's occurrence and the
notification of police normal?
* Are there discrepancies in the statements of either the
victims or witnesses?
* Does the physical evidence support the facts of the crime
related by the victim?
Identifying Solvability Factors
Not all crimes can be solved, no matter how much
investigative effort is put forth. In fact, with more and more
crimes being committed each day, many police