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

information 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

wheel search method