The first step to a successful criminal prosecution is a thorough investigation. This course is intended to assist newly assigned detectives, or patrol officers, in taking their investigations beyond the initial report. It provides investigators a foundation of knowledge of the basic aspects and procedures of conducting thorough investigations. It will give investigators a comprehensive review of the responsibilities throughout an investigation. It is designed to provide a foundation of basic techniques to build upon throughout the detective’s career.
What students will learn:
- Scene preservation and documentation
- Witness and suspect interviews
- Scene search techniques
- Defining and avoiding “confirmations bias”
- Constitutional considerations in collecting evidence and conducting interviews
- Information sources
