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Course Outline
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Investigation Procedures… The Process of Investigation
Introduction
First 10 Pages of Lesson One
Since a criminal investigation is usually the most complex and interesting, this lesson uses the criminal investigation procedure as its basis. The student will follow a police investigator, step by step, through a homicide investigation. Periodically, the investigation will pause and the student will be asked to decide what would be the logical next step in the investigation. This is called "problem based training" and is far superior to lecture based training or straight reading as an aid to learning.
Once the training investigation is complete, the student will follow the investigation of an internal warehouse theft on a step by step basis. Once the problem based cases have been completed, the student will then learn how to investigate a case, step by step, from the discovery of the crime through to its successful conclusion.
The great majority of crimes commence with a crime scene, in fact, this usually the point where a crime is discovered. There are some matters an investigator will investigate that may not have a crime scene, i.e., fraud, runaway teenager, etc., but the vast majority of criminal offences will involve a crime scene.
In view of the foregoing, it is essential that the investigator know:
The crime scene will usually be the investigator's first introduction to the matter being investigated, therefore, the more efficiently this aspect of the investigation is handled, the greater chance of a successful conclusion to the follow-up investigation.
Although television programs would have you believe that almost all cases are solved based on forensic evidence, the reality is that approximately 95% of cases are solved because the investigator has obtained vital information from human sources, usually the victim or witnesses.
It is absolutely essential for the investigator to have the skill and ability to obtain information from people. This requires both social skills and interviewing skills. Many people who possess information that is essential to the investigator may not be willing to talk to the investigator. They may be fearful of revealing information, they may be hostile to the investigator or they may not understand or care what the investigator needs to know.
This lesson is vital for the investigator if he or she hopes to be successful, after all, you will not remain a private investigator for long if you fail to solve 95% of your cases.
If you think obtaining information from reluctant or hostile witnesses is difficult, you will be faced with even greater difficulties when trying to question a suspect or obtain a written statement from them. In most cases, a guilty person who is being questioned or interrogated by an investigator has nothing to gain by cooperating and everything to lose. Furthermore, in any jurisdiction where the justice system and rules of law are based on British Jurisprudence (This would include the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the British Commonwealth countries), a suspect or accused person is not required to answer any questions by an investigator and has the immediate right to a defense attorney.
Despite these difficult hurdles, this lesson will teach the student how to use psychology to overcome these obstacles and increase an investigator's chances of obtaining truthful answers and even confessions from suspects and accused persons. It is important to note, that the techniques an investigator uses must ensure that any admission of guilt is voluntarily given and that the person confessing is actually guilty. Many crude and abusive interrogation techniques used by some investigators result in confessions from innocent persons. A true professional is always on guard for this possibility.
This lesson will teach the student how to properly collect evidence during an investigation so that it will be accepted in a court of law. The poorly trained or incompetent investigator may take possession of physical evidence found at a crime scene, or obtained a signed confession from a suspect, only to have both "thrown out" during the subsequent trial. This usually results in a guilty person walking out of court a free person, and the investigator being rebuked and scolded by the judge or the prosecutor. Proper handling of evidence is the true sign of a profession.
A private investigator obtains the great majority of his or her information from two sources….witnesses, public sources and contacts. This lesson will direct you to the public sources of information, some of which must be obtained in person, while others can be obtained via mail or computer. Contacts are people you have cultivated to provide you with information that is not available to the public. Even the police require contacts as not all information is available to them despite their official capacity.
Tracking down and locating missing persons is one of the most challenging, rewarding and interesting areas of private investigation. In most large urban areas, it would not be difficult for a private investigator to make a good living specializing in only these types of cases. Although some missing persons can be located using only a computer and a telephone, other cases require a great deal of ingenuity and "thinking outside the box". This lesson will show potential investigators both the standard methods and the more unorthodox method of locating missing persons. In some instances, a person whose whereabouts has been unknown for over a year can be located in five minutes. Lesson seven will provide many useful guidelines and tips to assist the investigator in reaching a successful conclusion.
Missing persons is a term that can describe a variety of different cases for a private investigator. A missing person may be an abducted child, a person wanted by the police, a relative who has simply disappeared or a "deadbeat" who is trying to avoid paying their debts. Depending upon the category of missing person, the investigation may be conducted in an entirely different manner. Tracking and locating missing persons is one of the most challenging, and oftentimes the most interesting, jobs undertaken by private investigators. In many investigation cases, there are varying degrees of success, but in tracing missing persons, it is usually black or white…. you have located them or you haven't. Success in this area of investigative work can be very satisfying to an investigator, and it is for this reason, many private investigators choose to specialize in this field.
Skill in the art of surveillance is arguably the most important skill a private investigator can have. It will probably be the first job you will be assigned to as a rookie investigator, yet surveillance is not something the average person can accomplish successfully without training.
When you watch the police or a private investigator follow someone in the movies or on a television show, you will be watching fantasy. It looks easy in the crime dramas, but in real life, following an alert, paranoid felon can be very difficult. Remember, if the person you are following realizes they are being followed, your case may be ruined. You will have alerted them to your investigation, therefore, you chances of success will have been reduced considerably, if not eliminated altogether. The value of surveillance cannot be overstressed. Skillful investigators have actually watched criminals commit crimes while performing surveillance. That is the best evidence any court could ask for.
In all probability, every major law enforcement agency in the world employs undercover agents in their efforts to combat crime, particularly in the area of drug trafficking. In the private sector, undercover agents are probably used even more than they are in law enforcement. Theft by employees of a company is an ongoing, daily occurrence and very few companies escape being the victim of its own dishonest employees. In management and labour disputes, sabotage may also occur and vital machinery is made inoperable.
The undercover agent is the key investigator in these types of crimes, and he or she must be very well trained and prepared for their assignment. This requires much more than "looking the part". The undercover agent must be very knowledgeable of the law, must be able to think on their feet, have good social skills so they can be quickly accepted by co-workers and also be able to function in their "cover job."
If you have watched a television show or movie about police or private investigators, one thing you will not see them doing is typing a report. In fact, you seldom even see them making entries in their note pad. The reality is, however, that note taking and report writing are one of the most important skills for an investigator.
The desired end result of almost any criminal investigation is the prosecution of the perpetrator in court. When an investigator is on the witness stand giving his or her evidence, they will be scrutinized by the judge and assailed by the defense counsel regarding the accuracy of their memory. The investigator's memory is given credibility by referring to their notes, which were made at the time of the event in question. Without accurate, legible notes, an investigator's memory may be discredited and their testimony disregarded.
If you are unable to produce a satisfactory report, you are of no use to the agency that employs you. Both the police department and the prosecutors' office require a report from the police investigator. Every client of a private investigation company expects and demands a report on the activities for which they paid the company. The importance of the report is so important, in fact, that an investigator's credibility, reputation and worth to their employer is usually based on the quality of the reports they submit. Both police and private investigator must submit a report providing an accurate, step by description of what they did and what they learned
The preliminary step to a satisfactory report is the investigator's notebook. You must make notes when you see, hear or do anything. Later, you will refer to these notes in order to prepare your report. Should you be required to testify in court, you will probably refer to your notes to ensure that your evidence is accurate. Lawyers acting for the other side of the case will have access to your notes and if they are less than perfect, they will attempt to ridicule you in court, and worst still, to discredit your evidence.
Computer Security is growing with our dependency on computers. Businesses and private individuals use computers regularly on a daily basis. Understanding the importance of computer security is a necessity these days. As a Private Investigator you should be aware of how to secure your computer as well those of your clients. In this lesson, you will learn the different controls used to protect computer systems, as well as detection methods, and protection of laptop computers
Burglaries or break-ins, as they are often called, is one of the most prevalent crimes in western industrialized societies. Although the police will be called upon to investigate most residential break-ins, the private investigator is often called upon to investigate this offence in the private sector when a client's premises has been burglarized. Since the police have limited time to spend on any one particular investigation, private investigators may be hired to take over an investigation when the police have moved on.
Every criminal offence is specialized, to a certain extent, and burglary is no exception. If an investigator has had experience investigating armed robberies or frauds, for example, he/she will find they must approach the investigation of a break-in in a different manner.
One of the most prevalent crimes that occurs on a daily basis, is insurance fraud. Tens of thousands of claims are submitted to insurance companies every week, a large portion of which are fraudulent. Very few of these frauds will be investigated by any law enforcement agency so the insurance companies have no choice but to employ private investigators.
The investigator's role in an insurance investigation is to obtain evidence that is needed to reach a conclusion as to the possible liability of the insured and the probabilities of the claim. That is to say, if the claim is legitimate, then the insurance company will have to pay a settlement to the insured party. If the claim is proved to be false or exaggerated, then the insurance company will not have to pay out a claim.
This lesson describes different types of insurance frauds, what to look for, and the steps to take in conducting a preliminary insurance fraud investigation
It's bad enough when an intruder breaks into a store at night or a robber holds up a store, but when the store's own staff steal from it, business owners are left dealing both with the loss and the betrayal of trust. Internal theft is a potential problem in any business. We're not talking about an employee lifting a few pens from office supplies, but of the methodical theft of merchandise and money - sometimes hundreds and even thousands of dollars worth, until the employee is caught. The majority of employees, like most of society are honest. But even the most trusting business owner can't ignore the possibility of internal theft.
When investigating an internal theft you can never rule out anyone, even long time employees. In fact, they may be more aware than anyone of the weaknesses in the security system and the ways around it. Some dealers are inclined to overlook losses suffered through internal theft, or take it easy on the perpetrator - easier, certainly, than they would if the thief was a stranger. By not pursuing the incident, especially when losses are high, sets a bad precedent and only encourages more internal theft. It's disillusioning to find that a trusted employee has taken advantage of the business owner and broken the law. By implementing basic loss prevention techniques, the private investigator can hopefully help the business owner avoid this unpleasant scenario and reduce the chances of becoming a victim of internal theft. This lesson describes various types of internal theft and loss prevention methods.
The typical U.S. organization loses 6 percent of annual revenue to fraud, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. That's $660 billion in yearly losses nationwide. ACFE's figure is just an estimate because many companies don't report frauds, those that do can't always determine the actual costs of such crimes and many corporate scams go unnoticed. The proper procedures and tools, however, can help prevent many workplace crimes.
The hard part is to recognize actual fraud. Primary corporate scams are asset misappropriation, corruption and fraudulent statements. Though employees pilfering cash or company resources such as equipment, inventory or information represents the most conventional fraudulent behaviour, corrupt employees engage in far more costly occupational schemes such as bribery and kickbacks.
This lesson shows you the different types of internal frauds, a typical fraudster's profile, and guidelines to detect and prevent fraud and appropriate actions you can take.
Background investigation is a very basic and essential technique in investigations. It is actually the crux of all investigation. Its values are indispensable and a well performed background investigation can make or break a case.
More than 50% of business and industry use investigation companies to conduct background investigations for pre-employment screening. Investigators around the country report that they are getting requests for background investigations on boyfriends and girlfriends in very large numbers. The need for background investigations is growing everyday, as business and private citizens want to know something or things about an individual, a business or another entity.
This lesson will discuss different types of background investigations and teach you how to conduct in-depth background investigations using various sources to obtain information.
For many private investigators, domestic cases outnumber all other types of investigations combined. Plus, domestic cases involve techniques used in many other types of cases. In most domestic relations cases, the investigator has the opportunity to exercise the techniques of surveillance, observation, tailing, interviewing and interrogation, obtaining information and photography.
In domestic relations work, the private investigator works for a client who is considering a divorce or seeking custody of children. Your client is likely attempting to obtain damaging evidence against the spouse to receive custody of a child or children.
In most cases, the client will be the spouse, although there are occasions where a lawyer acting on behalf of a spouse will retain your services.
When dealing with a domestic investigation client, certain information is required. This information makes it easier for the investigator. Sometimes the spouse may only have a suspicion, in which case they may not have a lot of information to provide. In this lesson we will teach you what you what information you need and demonstrate how to conduct a domestic investigation using a hypothetical case
Statistics indicate that corporate espionage is on the rise placing any company at risk of becoming a target for covert listening or video devices. Private individuals may also be a target of electronic surveillance by partners or stalkers.
As a Private Investigator, you may be called to locate and remove covert listening or video devices. This lesson will explain how to conduct a technical surveillance countermeasures survey.
Society is experiencing a great change. The Industrial Age, in which we have lived for the past 300 years, is giving way to the Information Age. Digital technologies are transforming the way we work and fundamentally live. Information technologies are now the cornerstone of our new economy.
From Federal Police Agencies to Private Investigators, crimes are being investigated with the aid of electronic tools. The connectivity and resources offered by the Internet represents an unprecedented opportunity for the Investigation community. Even the smallest agency can use the Internet as a powerful resource.
In this lesson we will teach you what sorts of useful information can be found, and show you where to find it.
Incidents of computer-related crime and telecommunications fraud have increased dramatically over the past decade. However, because of the confidential nature of this crime, there have been very few prosecutions and even fewer convictions.
The new technology that has allowed for the advancement and automation of many business processes has also opened the door to many new forms of computer abuse. Although some of these system attacks merely use contemporary methods to commit older, more familiar types of crime, others involve the use of completely new forms of criminal activity that evolved along with the technology.
Computer security investigators must be aware of the many technological and legal issues that affect systems and users, including issues dealing with investigations and enforcement. This lesson covers each area of computer crime investigation and computer forensics.
Investigations in the Intellectual Property field can take on many facets. Everything from investigating counterfeit products, such as illegal computer software to investigating the use of a trademark by a corporation or individual planning on using it where previous use may be in existence. It may also include the investigation of companies that are close to infringing but not quite over the line. In the areas of Patents, it may include investigating and interviewing various witnesses prior to trial.
Investigations can take on a very complex format or a very simple one. This lesson will teach you the most common types of Intellectual Property cases an investigator would investigate and the steps to take to conduct a proper investigation.
It is probably a logical presumption that the reason most people are enrolling in this course is to eventually obtain employment as a private investigator, and possibly even start their own private investigation business.
Even if your eventual goal is to own your own private investigation business, the first step is to obtain employment in this field so you can gain some valuable experience. It is an unfortunate truism that most people are sadly lacking in the skills of obtaining a job. Skills you must master in order to be successful in obtaining the employment you desire are:
Although this lesson is aimed at obtaining employment within the private investigation industry, the information you will receive in this lesson will be of assistance to you regardless of the job you are seeking.
Deep within most people is the desire to be self-employed, be their own boss, and control their own destiny. Since the private investigator is often a more adventurous, free-spirited person than the majority of people, they often have the goal of running their own company at some point in time.
There are many opportunities in the private investigation field for entrepreneurs. The key to successfully starting and operating your own business is three-fold:
This lesson will discuss help you decide whether you should offer general investigation services or specialize in a particular field. It will advise you as to the different types of private investigation companies there are, which may be most suitable for you and where you will find clients. Just as importantly, it will provide you with information about the business side of the industry, and the skills that are required to succeed. No company can succeed without effective marketing, for example. Regardless of how capable you may be as an investigator, you cannot survive without clients.