This is the only book in existence that discusses the process of documenting an investigation from start to finish. It presents just about everything an investigator needs to know regarding how to document an investigation. This new edition builds upon the principles outlined in the first edition, but the new edition has a criminal defense bent, with numerous case examples provided that include insurance claims and civil litigation, criminal defense, murders, sexual assaults, and other serious felonies, particularly wrongful convictions. These require meticulous documentation. Proper documentation matters most in criminal cases. This book therefore will focus also on the rights of those accused of crimes. The first chapter discusses the five primary principles of investigative documentation: taking comprehensive notes; documenting every effort to contact witnesses and all surveillance; preparing reports whenever there is any possibility of needing to testify; taking verbatim statements from hostile witnesses and declarations from friendly witnesses; and providing all case documents to the client or maintaining a document retention plan. The second chapter details the numerous misconceptions pertaining to investigative documentation. This chapter sets the stage for the remaining chapters on note-taking, running resumes, reports, statements, and documentation retention. Each chapter is broken down into four or five sections that approximate the methods used to complete that particular documentary endeavor. The book also contains an exhaustive appendix that many investigators will find to be very useful. This is an advanced book for people who already have the necessary skills to do an investigation. By following the principles outlined in this book, investigators will see the quality of their investigations improve markedly and ultimately be more successful. Although the authors have chosen to refocus the second edition on criminal defense investigations, where proper documentation is most important, the principles herein remain the benchmark of how to document any investigation in the private sector.

This is the only book in existence that discusses the process of documenting an investigation from start to finish. It presents just about everything an investigator needs to know regarding how to document an investigation. The first chapter discusses the five primary principles of investigative documentation: taking comprehensive notes; documenting every effort to contact witnesses and all surveillance; preparing reports whenever there is any possibility of needing to testify; taking verbatim statements from hostile witnesses and declarations from friendly witnesses; and providing all case documents to the client or maintaining a document retention plan. The second chapter details the numerous misconceptions pertaining to investigative documentation. This chapter sets the stage for the remaining chapters on note-taking, running resumes, reports, statements, and documentation retention. Each chapter is broken down into four or five sections that approximate the methods used to complete that particular documentary endeavor. The book also contains an exhaustive appendix that many investigators will find to be very useful, including: one that lists hundreds of abbreviations that investigators may find helpful when taking notes; sample reports that readers may use as templates for generating their own reports; an alphabetic stylebook that is based on styles used by the media and federal law enforcement agencies that provides a quick tool for properly referencing abbreviations, names, capitalization and numerals, among other topics; and several sample statements and declarations to show what these documents, when completed, are supposed to look like. This is an advanced book for people who already have the necessary skills to do an investigation. By following the principles outlined in this book, investigators will see the quality of their investigations improve markedly and ultimately be more successful.

The manner in which criminal investigators are trained is neither uniform nor consistent, ranging from sophisticated training protocols in some departments to on-the-job experience alongside senior investigators in others. Ideal for students taking a first course in the subject as well as professionals in need of a refresher, Introduction to Criminal Investigation uses an accessible format to convey concepts in practical, concrete terms. Topics discussed include: The history of criminal investigation in Western society Qualifications for becoming an investigator, the selection process, and ideal training requirements Crime scene search techniques, including planning and post-search debriefing Preparing effective field notes and investigative reports Interviewing and interrogating Types of evidence found at the crime scene and how to collect, package, and preserve it The contributions of forensic science to criminal investigations and the equipment used in crime labs Investigative protocol for a range of crimes, including property crimes, auto theft, arson, financial crimes, homicide, assault, sex crimes, and robbery Specialized investigations, including drug trafficking, cybercrime, and gang-related crime Legal issues involved in criminal investigations and preparing a case for trial Bringing together contributions from law enforcement personnel, academics, and attorneys, the book combines practical and theoretical elements to provide a comprehensive examination of today‘s criminal investigative process. The accessible manner in which the information is conveyed makes this an ideal text for a wide-ranging audience.

This is a guide to recommended practices for crime scene investigation. The guide is presented in five major sections, with sub-sections as noted: (1) Arriving at the Scene: Initial Response/Prioritization of Efforts (receipt of information, safety procedures, emergency care, secure and control persons at the scene, boundaries, turn over control of the scene and brief investigator/s in charge, document actions and observations); (2) Preliminary Documentation and Evaluation of the Scene (scene assessment, "walk-through" and initial documentation); (3) Processing the Scene (team composition, contamination control, documentation and prioritize, collect, preserve, inventory, package, transport, and submit evidence); (4) Completing and Recording the Crime Scene Investigation (establish debriefing team, perform final survey, document the scene); and (5) Crime Scene Equipment (initial responding officers, investigator/evidence technician, evidence collection kits).

Introduction to Conducting Private Investigations provides the essential tools you need to become a successful private investigator. From conducting straightforward background investigations to more complicated cases involving accidents and fraud, you will learn the critical skills needed to conduct all types of investigations and build a thriving business. Specifically tailored to meet the requirements established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, this easy-to-use resource offers an excellent balance between theory and practice, and is the definitive guide for private investigation instruction. Learn About Eight Types of Investigations: • Accident investigations • Background investigations • Criminal investigations • Domestic investigations • Fraud and financial investigations • Insurance investigations • Missing persons investigations • Undercover investigations Inside This Textbook You Will Learn: • How to apply the scientific method to the investigation process • How to conduct research, interviews, and surveillance • How to manage the products of an investigation • The ethics of being a private investigator • The law of public and private investigations

Designed as an introductory text for college students majoring in criminal justice administration or for police training programs, this text covers the principles of police investigations and their legal aspects. In dealing with techniques of criminal investigation, the volume emphasizes the need for meticulous adherence to rules of law and ethical practices during the entire investigative process. The types of evidence an investigator encounters are examined as well as the importance of evidentiary rules, admissibility, quantum of evidence principles, and an investigator's relationships with both suspects and witnesses. Factors necessary for a legal arrest are outlined, as are the investigator's managerial responsibilities, the basic objectives and processes of investigation, and the major concepts of investigative procedure. Practical guides, such as an information reporting system model, a program for a closed-loop investigation system, and strategies for organizing and conducting an investigation, are provided. A section on investigative reports provides instructions for developing and organizing a good field notebook in a variety of styles, suggested questioning methods for eliciting desired information, and a summary of ways to prepare and write an investigative report. (various examples of report types and styles and lists of their advantages and disadvantages are included.) After studying the text, students should be able to identify important information sources, select interview and interrogation sites according to established criteria, understand the basic steps in a crime scene investigation and special steps for certain types of investigations, and record crime scene data with necessary photographs and videotape support. Special chapters deal with the suspect--his modus operandi and identification--and the victims--their interviews, roles in victim identification, and ways to assist them. The final chapters cover ensuring the quality of an investigation and court testimony. Study topics and questions, references, annotated bibliographies, and an index are included.

Introduction to Conducting Private Investigations provides the essential tools you need to become a successful private investigator. From conducting straightforward background investigations to more complicated cases involving accidents and fraud, you will learn the critical skills needed to conduct all types of investigations and build a thriving business. Specifically tailored to meet the requirements established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, this easy-to-use resource offers an excellent balance between theory and practice, and is the definitive guide for private investigation instruction. Learn About Eight Types of Investigations: - Accident investigations - Background investigations - Criminal investigations - Domestic investigations - Fraud and financial investigations - Insurance investigations - Missing persons investigations - Undercover investigations Inside This Textbook You Will Learn: - How to apply the scientific method to the investigation process - How to conduct research, interviews, and surveillance - How to manage the products of an investigation - The ethics of being a private investigator - The law of public and private investigations