FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL

INVESTIGATION WITH BASIC SOCO

WEEK 7

 Investigator’s Notebook
 Importance and Purpose of Investigator’s
Notebook
 Common Investigation Oversights
Investigator’s Notebook
 Investigator’s Notebook defined

A small book or pad with blank or ruled pages for

writing notes.
A book or booklet for notes taking.
 IMPORTANCE AND PURPOSE OF
INVESTIGATOR’S NOTEBOOK
A. Purposes
1. For future recall.
2. Many of the details
associated with the
investigation.
 IMPORTANCE AND PURPOSE OF
INVESTIGATOR’S NOTEBOOK
A. Purposes
3. To record relevant
details of the case.
4. The court allows
the investigators to
consult their notes.
 IMPORTANCE AND PURPOSE OF
INVESTIGATOR’S NOTEBOOK

B. Recording notes:
1. Data should be recorded in a complete,
accurate and legible.
2. Must be written in ink.
 IMPORTANCE AND PURPOSE OF
INVESTIGATOR’S NOTEBOOK

B. Recording notes:
3. The top of each page should in the
notebook should bear investigator’s name,
date and number.
 INVESTIGATOR’S NOTEBOOK

Experienced investigators employ a

notebook to record the relevant details of
the case.

During trial, the court allows investigators

to consult their notes to refresh their
memory
COMMON INVESTIGATION OVERSIGHTS
COMMON INVESTIGATION OVERSIGHTS
Incomplete Case Folder

No template for the conduct of investigation

Inadequacy of coordination

Failure to prosecute

Chain of Custody

Less appreciation of electronic evidence

 INCOMPLETE CASE FOLDERS
Lack of material documentation of the case
under investigation.

Recommended Remedies:
Police Reports in chronological order
SOCO Reports
Forensic Reports
Photographs
Profile of victims and suspects
Status of the party involved
 NO TEMPLATE FOR THE CONDUCT OF
INVESTIGATION
Police personnel not knowledgeable about crime
scene preservation and basic investigation.

Recommend Remedies:
Undergo mandatory investigation training
 INADEQUACY OF COORDINATION
The SOCO, Investigators, Prosecutions, and other
agencies work separately and independently in the
conduct of investigation.
Recommended Remedies:

Case conference
 SOCO personnel
 Investigators
 Prosecutors
 IBP Lawyers
 Other agencies
 FAILURE TO PROSECUTE

 absence of investigators during trial to act as

prosecutor’s witness due to retirement and
transfer of concerned investigator.

Recommend Remedies:
 Proper turn-over of case-folders
 CHAIN OF CUSTODY

Non-observance of the proper documentation in

the turn-over of evidence

Recommend Remedies:

Documentation on the turn-over of evidence

with actual receipt
Non-observance should be the basis for
administrative sanctions.
Chain of Custody defined
It involves several persons who might have handled evidence
between the time of the commission of the alleged offense and
the disposition of the case, which should be kept to a minimum.
Chain of Custody = (DRAMCE)
- Duly Recorded Authorized Movement of Custody of
Evidence.
- Paper Trail
Purpose of Chain of Custody
1. In litigation investigating unit or agencies must be able to
prove the legal integrity of all samples and data introduced as
evidence.
2. To established an accurate written record to track the
possession, handling, and location of samples and data from
collection.
3. Efficiency in verifying the identity of the person responsible for
or who was possessed the samples and facts and where the
samples have been.
Chain of Custody
The chain of custody must be in detail including all persons
like your boss who wants to see the samples (ex. Dumaan
kay PD, RD, OR CPNP)records everything that takes place if
possible picture or video the transfer of custody.
1. From seizure
2. To investigator (IOC)
3. To crime laboratory (PNP Forensic Group)

Note: the lesser the chain of custody the better

 LESS APPRECIATION OF ELECTRONIC
EVIDENCE

Police investigators take for granted the electronic devices

such as cell phones, computers and other e-devices can
be processed to give investigative leads.

Recommended Remedies:
Proper training on the preservation and processing of
e-devices ( Cyber Investigation )