Running Head: ABSTRACT 1 Title of term paper Student Name, Master of Criminal Justice,2018 Professor Name, Gwendolynnescott -at- yqhoo dot com, Ph.D. Department of Criminal Justice Program Institution ABSTRACT 2 Abstract An investigative process as a term covers both the criminal investigation and the processing of the crime scene information. The processing of crime scene as a science, employs rigorous scientific methodologies, whereas criminal investigation as an art, relies more on the experience of the investigator (Layman,2002). The players in the entire investigative process include the responding officer, detectives, police supervisors, lawyers, judges, et cetera. The investigation can either be complaint-driven or nature-driven, and its primary purpose is finding the truth. Thus, the investigator has to understand the nature of the investigation, the elements in the case so as to compile a good investigative plan, and there should be enough resources in order for one to conduct a thorough investigation. These resources include sources of information (people, paper documents, video recordings or images), funds, vehicles, and the equipment. When people are used as sources, they should be handled sensitively and with decorum so as not to alter the information given, and to maintain good rapport (Morris,1983). Documentation as one of the key processes involved in an investigation and it is tedious as it is demanding. The data collection and keeping should be clear and extensive since it is through it that the entirety of a crime can be presented in the court. It covers a wide range of methods such as notes making from the literal observations, writing reports on the daily occurrences and collected data, sketching, drawing diagrams, photography, and videography (Fisher,2004). Of the major category of court cases are the crimes against persons. These crimes are vast and not limited to homicide, rape, assault, and robbery. These crimes can be so violent, and this is attributed to poor biosocial factors, weapons’ availability, and tense victim-offender ABSTRACT 3 relationship. Embedded within most of these crimes lies domestic violence. Even though domestic violence victims cut across gender and age, most victims are women, and it covers physical, emotional, economic, mental, and emotional abuse (Connor,2002). When a case is presented in the court of law, evidence presentation is key. The evidence presented can either be the physical evidence or the testimonial evidence, with physical evidence bearing more weight (Fisher,2004). Physical evidence can either be direct or circumstantial (indirect). When collecting physical evidence, the following steps are chronologically followed: crime scene processing, preservation or securing of the crime scene, searching the crime scene, collecting and processing evidence, and finally preserving the evidence. Testimonial evidence, on the other hand, is characterized by interviewing and interrogation (Hess,1990). Here the investigator obtains information from or about the persons linked to an incident. The interviews are conducted on the individuals the investigator deems are willing to give out information on a case. An interview can be done on the accused, the accuser, or witnesses. Interrogation is done on those people the investigator deems are not willing to give information on a case, and these are the accused (Holmes,2002). Polygraphs are at times used too, in helping the investigator to obtain the truth, through its measurement of the body reactions to questions. Polygraphs are only an aid in the investigation and should be the last option if must be used (Kleiner,2002). 
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