FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Dr. JEZREEL VICENTE
University of Baguio
@FB – Jezreel Vicente (0977-8877-300)
Investigation - an inquiry, judicial or otherwise for the discovery and collection of facts concerning th
matters involved.
- it is the process of inquiring, eliciting, soliciting and getting vital information, facts,
circumstances in order to establish the truth.
Criminal Investigator - a public safety officer who is tasked to conduct the investigation of all crimin
cases as provided for and embodied under the revised penal code, criminals laws and special laws
which are criminal in nature.
- a well trained, disciplined and experienced professional in the field of crimin
investigation.
Custodial Investigation - investigation conducted by law enforcement officers after a person has be
arrested or deprived of his freedom of action.
Neighborhood Investigation - one of the most crucial steps in kidnap for ransom cases which is oft
overlooked. The objective is to identify and interview in person all individuals in the area where the
victim was kidnapped or last known sighting area during the window of opportunity.(last time seen un
the time discovered missing.
Crime scene - a venue or place where the alleged crime/incident/event has been committed.
Corpus delicti - (latin for the body of the crime) - used to describe the physical or material evidence
a crime has been committed. ex. corpse of a murder victim.
Confession - is an express acknowledgement by the accused in a criminal prosecution of the truth o
his guilt as to the offense charge.
Admission - refers to statement of facts not directly constituting an acknowledgement of guilt.
Organized criminal group - a structured group of three or more persons existing
for a period of time and acting in concert with the aim of committing one or more serious crime or
offenses.
Organized crime - a combination of two or more persons who are engaged in a criminal or virtual
criminal activity on a continuing basis for the purpose of profit or power using gangland style to attain
their purpose.
Physical evidence - evidenced addressed to the senses of the court that are capable of being
exhibited, examined or viewed by the court. This includes but not limited to fingerprints, body fluid,
explosives, hazardous chemicals, soil/burned debris, bombs, electronic parts used in the commission
the crime.
Victimology/victim profiling - a detailed account of the victims lifestyle and personality, assist in
determining the nature of the disappearance, the risk level of the victim and the type of person who
could have committed the crime. Complete information regarding the victims physical description,
normal behavior patterns, the family dynamics and known friends and acquintances should be obtain
as soon as possible.
Miranda vs. Arizona - Ernesto Miranda had confessed to rape and kidnapping, after two hour
interrogation. Because the interrogators failed to inform Miranda of his right to counsel and remain si
his conviction was overturned.
Waterboarding - refers to the practice of strapping a suspect to a board with his or her head lowered
then the face is covered and water is poured over it causing the suspect to gag and experience the
sensation of drowning.
Chinese water torture - interrogation technique, repeatedly dripping water on the forehead of the
suspect. The goal is to drive the suspect to near insanity thereby obtaining a confession.
Serial Killer - is someone who murders 3 or more people with "cooling off" periods in between.
Police Blotter - is an 18" x 12" logbook with hard bound cover that contains the daily register of all
crime incident reports, officialsummary of arrests and other significant events reported in a police
station. A separate police blotter shall be maintained for offenses requiring confidentiality like violenc
against women and children and those cases involving a child in conflict with the law to protect their
privacy pursuant to RA 9262 (anti violence against women and children act of 2004) and RA 9344
( juvenile justice and welfare act of 2006).
Actus Reus - proof that a criminal act has occurred.
Sketch - a rough drawing or painting, often made to assist in making a more finished picture.
Types of Sketches
1. Floor plan (Birds Eye View)
2. Elevation Drawing
3. Exploded View
4. Respective Drawings
Allan Pinkerton - a Scottish american detective who created the Pinkerton National Detective Agen
the first detective agency in the US.Pinkerton foiled a plot to assassinate President Lincoln.
Rouges Gallery - is a police collection of pictures or photographs of criminals and suspects kept for
identification purposes.A compilation of descriptions, methods of operation having places and names
criminal and their associates.
Mugshot - is a photographic portrait taken after one is arrested.
Criminal investigation - it is the collection of facts in order to accomplish the three fold aims:
3 Fold Aims Of Criminal Investigation
1. To identify the guilty party
2. To locate the guilty party
3. To provide evidence of his guilt
6 Cardinal points of investigation
1. What specific offense was committed
2. How the offense was committed
3. Who committed it
4. Where the offense was committed
5. When it was committed
6. Why it was committed
Tools of an investigator in gathering facts
1. Information - data gathered by an investigator and other
person including the victim himself and from:
1. public records
2. private records
3. modus operandi file
2. Interview - skillful questioning of witness and
suspects.
3. Instrumentation - scientific examination of real
evidence, application of instruments and
method of physical sciences in detecting crime.
Phases of investigations
1.Phase 1 - identify the suspect through:
1. confession
2. eyewitness testimony
3. circumstantial evidence
4. associate evidence
2. Phase 2 - locate and apprehend suspect.
3. Phase 3 - gather and provide evidence to
establish the guilt of the accused.
Composition/Organization of an investigation team:
1. Team leader
2. Investigator/recorder
3. Photographer
4. Evidence Custodian
5. Composite illustrator/Artist
Equipment of an Investigator
1. Police line
2. Video camera
3. Voice recorder
4. Camera
5. Measuring device
6. Gloves
7. Flashlight
8. Fingerprint kit
9. Evidence bag
10. Evidence tag
11. Evidence bottles/vials
12. Investigators tickler
Investigators Tickler
1. Investigators checklist
2. Anatomical diagram form
3. Evidence Checklist
4. Turn-over receipt
Standard Methods of Recording Investigative Data:
1. Photographs
2. Sketching crime scenes
3. Written notes (what you have seen/observed)
4. Developing and lifting fingerprints found at the crime scene.
5. Gathering physical evidence
6. Plaster cast
7. Tape recording of sounds
8. Video tape recording of objects
9. Written statement of objects and witnesses.
2 Kinds of Information
1. Regular sources - ex. citizen, company records
2. Cultivated sources - ex. paid informant
Interrogation or questioning witness or suspect who is reluctant to divulge or reveal informatio
with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information while an Interview is simple
questioning of a person who cooperate with the investigator.
How the Suspect is Identified
1. Confession or Admission - is a declaration of an
accused acknowledging his guilt.
2. Eyewitness testimony
3. Circumstantial evidence
How circumstantial Evidence Obtained
1. Motive
2. Opportunity
3. Associative Evidence
Types of Interview
1. Informal (on the scene interview) - conducted by
police/investigator at the crime scene to get
description of criminal if seen.
2. Formal - interview conducted by the investigator
assigned to the case.
Types of Formal Interview
1. Normal - for willing or cooperative witness.
2. Group/Pretext Interview - for hostile witness or
witness who refuse to cooperate.
3. Follow Up - additional interview in addition to vital
points if necessary.
Qualifications of Interviewer
1. Salesman
2. Actor
3. Psychologist
Requisites of an Interview
1. Establish rapport
2. Forcefulness of personality
3. Breadth of interest
Setting of Interview
1. Background Interview - time and place of
interview are not a consideration except for busy
person.
2. Routine Criminal Cases - interview should be
carefully planned. Busy person can be interviewed
at night, privacy is important.
3. Important Criminal Cases - should be conducted in
places other than the subjects home/office to
prevent him/her feeling confident. Investigator
should get interviewees respect.
4. Appropriate Time - General rule - (ASAP) as soon
possible while facts are fresh in the memory of
interviewees.
Methods of Crime Scene Search
1. Strip method - the area is blocked out in the form
of a rectangle. The searchers (3 person is good)
proceed slowly at the same pace along paths
parallel to one side of the rectangle.
2. Double Strip Search Method - modification of the
strip search method. The rectangle is traversed
first parallel to the base then parallel to a side.
3. Spiral Search Method - The searchers (3 person is
good) follow each other along the path of a spiral
beginning on the outside and spiraling in towards
the center.
4. Zone Search Method - one searcher is assigned
to each subdivision of a quadrant and then each
quadrant is cut into another set of quadrants.
5. Wheel Search Method - the area is considered to
be approximately circular. The searchers gather at
the center and proceed outward along radii or
spokes. Procedure is repeated several times
depending on the size of the circle and the number
of searchers.
strip search method
double strip search method
spiral search method
zone search method
wheel search method
Fundamentals Of Criminal Investigation Reviewer 1
1. America's most famous private investigator and founder of
Criminal Investigation.
A. Alec Nayhem
B. Allan Pinkerton
C. Thomas Byrnes
D. None of these
2. The first woman detective in the history of criminal investigation.
A. Kathleen Jacob
B. Candy Miles
C. Kate Wayne
D. Pines Hamilton
3. He was known to be the creator of the "bow street runners", a
group of police officers attached to the Bow Street Court, and not
in uniform, performing criminal investigative functions.
A. Henry Fielding
B. John Fielding
C. John Howard
D. Robert Peel
4. The founder and chief organizer of the London Metropolitan Police,
the Scotland Yard, which became famous police organization
in the world.
A. Henry Fielding
B. John Fielding
C. John Howard
D. Robert Peel
5. As a rule, do not touch, alter or remove anything at the crime
scene until the evidence has been processed through notes,
sketches and photographs, with proper measurements.This refers to
A. the golden rule in investigation
B. the number one SOP in investigation
C. the act of note taking
D. the act of crime scene preservation
6. An Englishman who published a handbook for Examining Magistrates
in Munich, Germany and advocated the use of scientific methods
in criminal investigation process.
A. Hans Gross
B. Thomas Byrnes
C. Alphonse Bertillon
D. Francis Galton
7. The SC ruled the illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible in
state criminal prosecutions in the famous case of
A. Miranda vs Arizona
B. Otit vs Jeff
C. Mapp vs Ohio
D. Milkey vs Wett
8. The continues accountability of persons handling evidences, and
having responsibility of taking care and preserving the evidences
from the time it was found until brought to court for presentation
is called
A. Chain of events
B. Key events
C. Chain of custody of evidence
D. Chain of command
9. In England, he was a buckle maker then a brothel operator; a
master criminal who became London's most effective criminal
investigator. He was the most famous Thief-Catcher in 1720s.
A. Alexander Macanochie
B. Jonathan Wild
C. Billy Cook
D. John Howard
10. What is the Latin term for criminal intent?
A. Mens Rea
B. Magna Culpa
C. Inflagrante Delicto
D. Mala Vise
Answers:Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. D
5. A
6. A
7. C
8. C
9. B
10.A
