Criminal Investigation

Criminal investigators need broad knowledge of such topics as criminal law, criminal procedure, and investigative techniques. The best resource for these professionals will distill the needed information into one practical volume. Written in an accessible style, the fourth edition of Criminal Investigation maintains the same reader friendly approach that made its predecessors so popular with students, professionals, and practitioners.

Beginning with an overview of the history of criminal investigation, the book explores current investigative practices and the legal issues that constrain or guide them. It discusses the wide range of sources of information available, including the internet, individuals, state and local sources, and federal agencies and commissions.

Next, the book discusses other investigative techniques, including interviewing and interrogation, informants, surveillance, and undercover operations. A chapter on report writing provides explicit instructions on how to capture the most critical information needed in an investigation. Additional chapters cover the crime scene investigation and the crime laboratory.

The remainder of the book delves into the specific investigative protocols for individual crimes, including sex offenses, homicide, mass and serial murder, assault and robbery, property crimes, cybercrime, and narcotics. Concluding chapters focus on the police/prosecutor relationship and investigative trends.

Each chapter includes a summary, a list of key terms, and review questions so that readers can test their assimilation of the material. Clear and concise, this book is an essential resource for every criminal investigator’s toolbox.

Michael J. Palmiotto, Ph.D., is a professor of Criminal Justice and undergraduate coordinator of the Criminal Justice Department at Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. He is a former police officer in New York State, serving with the White Plains and Scarsdale Police Departments. He has experience in establishing and operating a police training facility in western Pennsylvania. He has a master’s degree from John Jay College (CUNY) and a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Palmiotto has been a faculty member of several universities including Western Illinois University and Armstrong Atlantic State University. Dr. Palmiotto has published ten books, twelve book chapters, and numerous articles on criminal justice and law enforcement. He has published in the areas of criminal investigations, community policing, police misconduct, police globalization, and police training, to name a few topics.

Historical Review of Criminal Investigation Roots of Investigation Investigations in America The Role of Patrol Officers The Modern Investigator Current Investigative Practices The Management of Criminal Investigations The Rand Study Case Screening Compstat Investigative Function Crime Analysis Specialized Units Relationship with the News Media Legal Issues Arrest Search and Seizure Rules of Evidence Lineups and Identification Sources of Information Internet People as Sources State and Local Sources Federal Agencies and Commissions Interviewing and Interrogation Listening Interviewing Interrogation Recording Information Lie-Detection Methods Informants Classifying Informants Evaluating Informants Working an Informant Writing Reports and Field Notes Field Notes Reports Principles of Report Writing Surveillance and Undercover Operations Surveillance Undercover Operations Crime Scene Investigation Protecting the Crime Scene Searching the Crime Scene Specialized Scientific Methods The Crime Laboratory Introduction Purpose of a Crime Lab Fundamentals of a Crime Lab Evidence Crime Lab Services Equipment New Technologies Forensic Science Libraries Central and Regional Labs Accreditation Sex Offenses Aspects of Illicit Sexual Behavior Classifying Sexual Behavior Sexual Misadventure Deaths Sexual Exploitation of Children Death through Violence Suicide Homicide Identifying Bodies Estimating the Time of Death Evidence from Cause of Death Medicolegal Investigation Infanticide Mass Murder Spree Murder Serial Murder Lust Murder Assault and Robbery Assault Robbery Property Crimes The Nature of Burglary The Preliminary Investigation The Follow-Up Investigation Larceny Investigating a Larceny-Theft Auto Theft Motor Vehicle Theft Enforcement Act Crime of Opportunity Carjacking Shoplifting Fraud Cybercrime Computer Theft Investigation Narcotics and Other Drugs The Controlled Substances Act Types of Drugs Drug-Trafficking Organizations Money Laundering Drug Intelligence Offenders Who Use Drugs Drug Dependence Conducting a Drug Investigation Asset Forfeiture Preventing Drug Abuse The Police/Prosecutor Relationship Case Preparation Case Screening Police Liaison with Prosecution Benefits of an Improved Relationship Investigative Trends Computers Private Security Connections Forensic Science Forensic Psychology Augmented Reality Technology Bias Crimes Index