Introduction to Criminal Investigation
The prevention of crime is the primary function of all police organisations.
When crimes are committed the police are responsible to:
Collect information during the criminal investigation.
Identify the alleged perpetrators.
Ensure the presence of the alleged perpetrators during the court trial.
Submit evidence to the court to reveal the alleged perpetrators’ unlawful actions.
Criminal Investigation: A systematic search for the truth aimed at a positive solution to a crime.
There are 2 sources of information.
1. Objective information
o The factual proof or Physical evidence.
o Known as mute, circumstantial, or indirect information, meaning that it can’t
speak for itself and needs interpretation from professionals.
Eg. Weapons, bodily fluids, hair fibres, teeth marks and fingerprints.
o Forensic experts demonstrate spatial relationships between objects,
suspects, victims, timelines, and the criminal event.
o Through interpretation of the circumstances and in conjunction with other
information, objective information could prove guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt.
o It takes 2 forms:
Information is transferred from the crime scene or victim to the
perpetrator.
Information is transferred from the perpetrator to a crime scene or
victim.
2. Subjective information
Derived from the real sensory experiences, or knowledge of people,
about a relevant crime situation.
Is a direct source of information (direct information).
Can prove a point without interpretation of circumstances.
Is there any information that can show the court that something
occurred without the need for the court to make inferences or
assumptions to conclude.
It must be decided what is reliable.
, o Eg. Witness statement, suspect, victim statement and
informers.
Critical thinking activity: Why is this type of information described as subjective?
Subjective information represents one person’s bias or perspective of an experience thus
showing a subjective view rather than a “factual” more objective view.
Factors may influence the bias or perspective of the witness (Shock or poor vision)
The components of criminal investigation deduced from the definition
There are 5 components:
1. Criminal investigation is a systematic, planned process.
The gathering of information during an investigation process cannot be
undertaken in a random, haphazard, and unplanned manner.
Information should be gathered lawfully.
A systematic plan of action should underpin the information-gathering
process.
2. Information
Subjective and objective.
3. Recognition
Criminal investigators must be able to identify all relevant information even
before it is gathered.
o They must be aware of the possible value of all potential sources of
information.
o They require extensive knowledge of the evidential requirements
(Juridical elements) of different types of crime.
Roles in policing organisations have evolved into specialised designations
with the expectation that modern criminal investigators should be well-trained
professionals who possess the knowledge and skills to effectively respond to
and investigate crime.
Professional skills include:
o Critical incident response proficiency (Eg. A serious crime which is still
in progress and during which lives are at stake)
o Understanding and interpreting criminal law and procedural law
requirements will aid in the ability to recognise and identify different
types of crimes.
The prevention of crime is the primary function of all police organisations.
When crimes are committed the police are responsible to:
Collect information during the criminal investigation.
Identify the alleged perpetrators.
Ensure the presence of the alleged perpetrators during the court trial.
Submit evidence to the court to reveal the alleged perpetrators’ unlawful actions.
Criminal Investigation: A systematic search for the truth aimed at a positive solution to a crime.
There are 2 sources of information.
1. Objective information
o The factual proof or Physical evidence.
o Known as mute, circumstantial, or indirect information, meaning that it can’t
speak for itself and needs interpretation from professionals.
Eg. Weapons, bodily fluids, hair fibres, teeth marks and fingerprints.
o Forensic experts demonstrate spatial relationships between objects,
suspects, victims, timelines, and the criminal event.
o Through interpretation of the circumstances and in conjunction with other
information, objective information could prove guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt.
o It takes 2 forms:
Information is transferred from the crime scene or victim to the
perpetrator.
Information is transferred from the perpetrator to a crime scene or
victim.
2. Subjective information
Derived from the real sensory experiences, or knowledge of people,
about a relevant crime situation.
Is a direct source of information (direct information).
Can prove a point without interpretation of circumstances.
Is there any information that can show the court that something
occurred without the need for the court to make inferences or
assumptions to conclude.
It must be decided what is reliable.
, o Eg. Witness statement, suspect, victim statement and
informers.
Critical thinking activity: Why is this type of information described as subjective?
Subjective information represents one person’s bias or perspective of an experience thus
showing a subjective view rather than a “factual” more objective view.
Factors may influence the bias or perspective of the witness (Shock or poor vision)
The components of criminal investigation deduced from the definition
There are 5 components:
1. Criminal investigation is a systematic, planned process.
The gathering of information during an investigation process cannot be
undertaken in a random, haphazard, and unplanned manner.
Information should be gathered lawfully.
A systematic plan of action should underpin the information-gathering
process.
2. Information
Subjective and objective.
3. Recognition
Criminal investigators must be able to identify all relevant information even
before it is gathered.
o They must be aware of the possible value of all potential sources of
information.
o They require extensive knowledge of the evidential requirements
(Juridical elements) of different types of crime.
Roles in policing organisations have evolved into specialised designations
with the expectation that modern criminal investigators should be well-trained
professionals who possess the knowledge and skills to effectively respond to
and investigate crime.
Professional skills include:
o Critical incident response proficiency (Eg. A serious crime which is still
in progress and during which lives are at stake)
o Understanding and interpreting criminal law and procedural law
requirements will aid in the ability to recognise and identify different
types of crimes.
