Question Description

Review “Managing the Criminal Investigation” in Chapter 6 of Criminal Investigation, and answer the following questions:

• Who conducts the preliminary investigation?
• How is it determined if a follow-up investigation is to be conducted?
• Who conducts the follow-up investigation?
• What are solvability factors? Give an example.
• Are there any advantages to having a prosecutor present at the crime scene during processing? If so, what are the advantages? Explain your answer.

The preliminary investigation is the core of the investigation. The first response officers at the scene of the crime are the ones that conduct the investigation before they hand over to the investigators. The first response officers hold important stake in the investigation since the investigators conduct an in-depth investigation basing from the preliminary investigation. The primary investigation is the one that determines the future of any investigation and therefore it has to be effective.

As the investigation continues, there is determination of whether there is need for further investigation. The determination for follow up investigation is required when there is discovery of solvability factors. The factors include issues such eyewitness as well as identification of suspects by name as well as location among others. The absence of solvability factors may overcome the need for the follow-up investigation.

The follow up investigation is the work of the criminal investigation managers. The strength of the preliminary investigation gives the managers the power to be able to conduct further investigations. Media can also assist in further investigation together with other interest agencies that has mandate to conduct such investigations (Becker and Dutelle, 2013).

Solvability factors according to the article are the factors that acts as input needed in order to make successful. In addition, the input helps in determining the best way of employing investigators and investigative resources for the police departments. Examples of these factors include the questions on identification of the suspect and the location of the suspect.

Having a prosecutor during the crime processing is important since he or she can get first hard-undistorted information from the scene as well as get the evidence from the scene of crime. A prosecutor will be able to address his case better due to the presence in the processing.

It is difficult to manage a criminal investigation. Managing criminal investigations is a time consuming procedure, but never the less, a very important part of any investigation as noted by Captain Michael J. Sullivan, Criminal Investigation Division, Dubuque, Iowa, Police Department. “Once the initial stages of an investigation have been completed, supervisors must be prepared to manage the case follow up. In many ways, successful follow up presents a very different set of challenges for which supervisors must prepared.” Sullivan, M. J. (1998).

References

Becker, R. F. & Dutelle, A. W. (2013). Criminal investigation (4th ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Miles, S. (2007, April 7). [PDF]Criminal Investigation Case Management.pdf. Retrieved from www.emich.edu/.../Criminal%20Investigatio... Eastern Michigan University