CJS 2410 Criminal Investigations

CJS 2410: Criminal Investigations

Description

Criminal Investigations develops the basic procedural aspects of the criminal investigative process. Through instruction, evaluation of key elements of crimes, and case evaluations students will identify the process of completing a criminal investigation from first arrival on the scene of a crime through the court process. Specific areas that will be identified during the course will be legal and procedural aspects, responsibilities, interviewing and interrogating, document preparation, and court testimony.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

None

Corequisite

None

Topics to be Covered

1. Legal and procedural aspects of the investigative process

2. Roles and responsibilities associated with criminal investigations

3. Legal, procedural, and ethical considerations in interrogations and interviews

4. Organization and clarity in all associated investigation documents

5. Key elements for effective interaction with the judicial system

Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to successfully identify the knowledge base, respond to and properly handle all tasks associated with the following Professional Police Officer Education (PPOE) Learning objectives required by the Minnesota POST Board:
  • 2.3.1    Define the following terms: search warrant, arrest warrant, subpoena, order for protection (OFP), ex-parte order for protection, qualified domestic violence-related order (QDVRO), Harassment Restraining Order (HRO), no-contact orders, night-capped warrant, no-knock warrant, and curtilage.
  • 2.3.3    Identify the legal requirements governing preparation and execution of the search warrant of a suspect's home or dwelling, vehicle, or person.
  • 2.3.6 Discuss how telephonic search warrants and search warrant templates can speed up the search warrant application process.
  • 2.3.7 Explaining each of the following types of orders: Domestic Violence Protective Orders, Order of No Contact, and Orders to Pick Up Children.
  • 2.16.7 "Explain investigative procedures in domestic violence situations related to:
    - interpreting the law when making arrest decisions in domestic violence cases, including when arrest is mandatory and identifying the primary aggressor,
    - the role of protective orders,
    - when to complete the short form for the order for protection,
    - communication techniques that may be effective in volatile situations, and
    - why victims may be reluctant to press charges or testify."

  • 2.17.9  "Identify special care and considerations for writing police reports and collecting evidence* in situations involving sexual assault.

    * Examples of special care and considerations for writing police reports and evidence collection include:

    - Identify important details to document in sexual assault reporting and why,

    - Understand that:

       * filing a report does not mean a victim must immediately pursue an investigation or prosecution,

       * there may or may not be evidence the victim fought back and that lack of fighting back does not indicate consent,

       * delayed reporting is common and may impact evidence collection,

    - Explain trauma informed strategies that may be useful for gathering information from and interviewing victims of trauma,

    - Understand forensic sexual assault evidence preservation and collection procedures,

       * Identify sources of non-DNA forensic evidence, how it can be useful and problems associated with reliance on DNA evidence alone.

       * Explain what a sexual assault kit is and how it is used.

    This list is not all inclusive and is subject to change."

  • 2.23.3  "Discuss the need for protection of data related to on-going

    investigations, crime victims, and juveniles."
  • 2.24.1  Describe common types of cybercrime or internet crime, e.g., hacking, identify theft, phishing, malware distribution, and online fraud. Explain how these crimes are committed and their impact on individuals and organizations.
  • 2.26.1  Define the terms terrorism (domestic and foreign), critical infrastructure, homeland security, and the militia movement. Describe the challenges in balancing national security concerns and civil rights, including the impact of the USA Patriot Act and modified laws, such as the USA Freedom Act, on law enforcement operations and communities they serve.
  • 2.27.2  Define the concept of vice crime and identify the characteristics of various vice crimes (e.g., drug trafficking and possession, illegal gambling, human trafficking, prostitution, solicitation, pornography, organized retail theft, and cybercrime.)

  • 3.2.1    "Discuss interview techniques used to:

    - build rapport,

    - encourage full meaningful answers and discourage suggestibility,

    - clarify and corroborate statements,

    - enhance memory,

    - detect deception, and

    - obtain information from a reluctant witness."
  • 3.2.5    Explain and participate in evidence-based procedures for identifying suspects, e.g., lineup, photo lineup, and field identification, including blind/blinded administration of the lineup, instructions to the eye witness that the perpetrator may or may not be present, use of nonsuspect “fillers” that match the eyewitness’s description of the perpetrator and do not make the suspect noticeably stand out and asking a witness to state his or her level of certainty, in his or her own words, as soon as an identification is made.

  • 3.2.6    "Describe how eyewitness memory works and how it can be impacted by estimator variables (e.g.,

    lighting at the crime scene, distance from the crime, presence of a weapon, cross-racial factors) and system variable (e.g., lineup procedures)."
  • 3.13.4 Identify mandatory reporters of suspected abuse and discuss where to report, what must be reported, the confidentiality of reports, and the legal ramifications for not reporting.
  • 3.13.7 Explain child welfare holds that allow officers to remove children from at-risk situations.
  • 3.13.8 Explain officer duties in death notification/body identification situations.
  • 3.13.9  Discuss investigation and evidence collection techniques specifically related to homicide, suicide, accidental and natural death scenes.
  • 3.13.10 Describe the peace officers' role in responding to large-scale emergencies and disasters involving safety concerns and ongoing threats, such as gas leaks, downed power lines, looters, fires, domestic and foreign terrorism, critical infrastructure, homeland security, and the militia movement. Demonstrate conducting on-scene assessments, explain maintaining interagency communication, and collaborate with utility companies, traffic and crowd management personnel, and other law enforcement agencies. Discuss the challenges of balancing national security concerns and civil rights during emergencies.

  • 3.13.11 "Summarize the elements of the Incident Command System (ICS) including:

    - the overall objectives and primary functions of ICS,

    - the typical agencies that are involved in the ICS,

    - the roles of emergency/first responder in preparedness and response systems during and after disaster situations,

    - the typical hierarchical chain of command structure, and

    - the role of the FBI if the disaster is related to foreign or domestic terrorism."

  • 3.13.12 "Summarize characteristics of systems involved in preparing for and managing large scale disasters including:

    - the elements of the national preparedness system and the national response plan, and

    - the purposes, key concepts and principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS)."

  • 3.13.13 "Explain law enforcement functions aimed at protecting critical

    infrastructure and potential targets from terrorism and/or natural disasters."
  • 3.13.23 Describe investigative procedures used in drug interdiction, including intelligence gathering, surveillance, and undercover operations, vehicle searches and field test protocols, interagency cooperation, and asset forfeiture.
  • 3.13.32 Describe the crime of arson, the common evidence used in differentiating between arson caused fire and other causes, and the importance of securing and protecting evidence at fire scenes.
  • 3.13.33 Discuss responsibilities and safety concerns relative to peace officer response to fire scenes and the different roles and responsibilities of officers, fire fighters and representatives of the fire marshal’s office.
  • 3.13.43 Explain peace officers response and reporting responsibilities relative to missing persons.
  • 3.13.44 Describe the role the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension plays as a resource in missing person investigations, missing and endangered children and child abductions.
  • 3.13.45 Describe important information to gather relative to a report of a missing child or an endangered person.
  • 3.13.46 Describe data systems and resources available to Minnesota law enforcement in the investigation of missing children and endangered persons.
  • 3.13.47 Explain the purpose of and procedures for conducting a neighborhood canvas and other steps involved in initiating a search for a missing person.

Credit Details

Lecture: 3

Lab: 0

OJT: 0

MnTC Goal Area(s): None

Transfer Pathway Competencies

Criminal Investigations

1. Explain the legal and procedural aspects of the investigative process.

2. Explain roles and responsibilities associated with law enforcement investigations.

3. Compare legal, procedural, and ethical considerations in interrogations and interviews.

4. Demonstrate organization and clarity in all associated investigation documents.

5. Define key elements for effective interaction with the judicial system.