CRIM 130 - Criminal Investigation

3 Credit: (3 lecture, 0 lab, 0 clinical) 3 Contact Hours:

This course covers the basic principles of modern criminal investigation techniques including crime scene search, collection and preservation of evidence, follow-up investigation, police criminalistics, and court preparation and testimony.
OFFERED: spring semesters

Course Goals/ Objectives/ Competencies:
Goal 1: Describe processes used by law enforcement related to crime scene investigation.

Protect a crime scene.
Collect evidence.
Interview witnesses and suspects.

Goal 2: Describe processes used by law enforcement after crime scene investigation.

Interrogate suspects.
Write reports.
Manage investigative activities and resources.
Assess crime lab capabilities.
Evaluate the admissibility of evidence.
Select the appropriate test to request a crime lab to perform on an item of evidence.

Goal 3: Examine evidence and information.

Illustrate the intelligence analytical cycle.

Goal 4: Describe appropriate external investigative resources for a particular investigation.

Outline the investigators responsibilities in a death investigation.
Compare the elements of various property and violent crimes.
Outline the impact various crimes have on the economy.
Summarize the investigators responsibilities in presenting evidence in court.
Evaluate the effectiveness of investigators as witnesses in court.
Concatenate the evolution of case law important investigation.

Goal 5: Describe the type of training and experience investigators will need in the future.