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Identification of investigative factors investigative factors provide information about a
crime that serve determine who committed it
without an investigative factor the chances of crime solution are small
preliminary investigation All of the activities undertaken by a police officer who responds
to the scene of a crime, including determining whether a crime has occurred, securing the crime
scene, and preserving evidence.
12 Major investigative factors 1. Witness to the crime
2. Knowledge of the suspects name
3. knowledge of where a suspect can be located
4. description of a suspect
5. identification of a suspect
6. property with identifiable characteristics , marks, or numbers, so it can be traced
7. a significant modus operandi
8. Significant physical evidence
,Crime Scene GPSTC 321/320 Questions With
Complete Solutions
9. Description that IDs the automobile used by the subject
10. positive results from a crime scene search
11. belief that the crime can be solved with publicity or reasonable additional investigative effort
12. Opportunity for only one person to commit the crime
First Response to a Crime Scene administer aid to injured parties
protect the scene (limit unnecessary walking about, do not allow items to be moved or handled)
Limit access to the scene
identify witnesses
identify suspects
Make notes of ________________________ and other details that can be used by an investigator
times, dates, weather conditions
Record the Scene and observe before acting
Investigators have only a limited amount of time to work the site of a crime in its untouched
state, so this time must not be lost.
, Crime Scene GPSTC 321/320 Questions With
Complete Solutions
Methods of searching a crime scene Point to point, sector or zone, concentric circle or
spiral, strip double strip or grid, wheel or pie pan, and line
Point to point search Move in order of appearance of evidence (from #1 to #2, #2 to #3,
etc)
Often disorganized, trace evidence may be overlooked
Sector or Zone Search can be done inside or outside
divide and assign responsibilities of sectors
Concentric Circle or Spiral Search this method may be used in explosions and scenes
examined by a single investigator. a logical starting point is selected and a search begins from the
point of emphasis outward
A strip search each officer walks along a parallel strip within the scene. once reaching the
outer perimeter, the officer turns
like mowing a yard