TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Preliminary Considerations

2 Modern Special Crime Investigation

3 Effective Special Crime Investigation

4 Investigative Task vs- Investigative Thinking

In the previous work, entitled ‘‘Forensic Medicine,” which specifically deal with investigation of crimes against person,
coupled with medico-legal aspect of death, sexual offenses, and physical injuries were given emphasis , as preliminary
considerations in discussing topics related with the subject, however, the conduct of special crime investigation does not
stop with investigation of the previously mentioned crimes, this also involves investigation of crimes against property,
but also other offenses defined and penalized by special laws, preying innocent victims belonging to the most
disadvantaged and most vulnerable groups of people.

This new series of work, entitled “Special Crime Investigation with simulation on Interview and Interrogation,”
specifically deal with crime against property, and other crimes or offenses, that also needs to be given preferential
attention, purposely to develop knowledge, abilities, skills, and even work-values to those would be joining the scientific
world of professional criminal investigation.

Finally, the words “special crime investigation” has been defined in the previous work, therefore, this work does not
anymore require the discussion of its meaning because it will only constitute repetition; thus, jeopardizing topics
presented in other parts, and in reechoing the important aspects of interview and interrogation, its distinctive uses
between different subjects of investigation, specifically the giving of the rights of a person under custodial investigation,
when and where it is due.
 MODERN SPECIAL CRIME IVESTIGATION
● Special crime investigation is a broad term encompassing a wide range of specialties that aim to determine how events
occurred, and to establish an evidence-based fact pattern to prove the guilt or innocence of an accused person in a
criminal event.

● The criminal investigator must follow practices of identifying, collecting, recording, and preserving evidence: in the case
of the unknown suspect, additional thinking skills of analysis, theory development, and validation of facts must be put to
work.

● The craft of special crime investigation has been evolving since the birth of modem policing in the mid-1700s. This use of
forensic physical matching is an example of circumstantial forensic evidence being used to link a suspect to an offense.

● This type of early forensic evidence also illustrates the beginnings of what exists today as a broad variety of forensic
sciences to aid investigators in the development of evidence.

● This is also the beginning of forensic evidence being recognized as an investigative tool. Only a few years earlier, in 1886,
the use of photography for the first Rogues Gallery of criminal photographs was implemented by the New York City
Police Department (NYPD). This first “rogue’s gallery” was an organized collection of photographs of known criminals
taken at the time of their most recent conviction for a crime. Prior to this organized collection of criminal photos. Facial
characteristics on wanted posters had been limited to sketch artists” renderings.
 MODERN SPECIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION

● With this innovation of photography, the use of mug-shots and photographic identification of suspects through
facial recognition began to evolve. These early forensic innovations in the evolution of criminal investigation
demonstrate a need for criminal investigators to develop the knowledge, abilities, and skills to locate and utilize
physical evidence that enables circumstantial links between people, places, and events to prove the facts of criminal
cases.

● Physical evidence is the buried treasure for criminal investigators, Physical evidence can be collected, preserved,
analyzed, and used in court to establish a fact. Physical evidence can be used to connect an accused to their victim or
used at a crime scene lo establish guilt or innocence. Forensic evidence may prove a point in fact that confirms or
contradicts the alibi of an accused, or one that corroborates or contradicts the testimony of a witness.

● Today, the ability of forensic experts to identify suspects and to examine physical evidence has increased
exponentially when compared to early policing. Scientific discoveries in a wide range of disciplines have contributed
to the development and evolution of forensic specialties in physical matching, chemical analysis, fingerprints,
barefoot morphology, odontology, toxicology, ballistics, hair and fiber, biometric analysis, entomology, and most
recently, the DNA test
 EFFECTIVE SPECIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION

An effective strategy for learning any new skill is to define it and break it down into logical steps, establishing a
progression that can be followed and repeated to reach the desired results. The process of investigation is no
exception and can be effectively explained and learned in this manner.

The following issues are related to the process of investigation:

(1) the distinction between investigative tasks and investigative thinking; (2) the progression of the investigative
process; (3) the distinction between tactical investigative and strategic investigative responses; (4) the concepts of
event classification and offence recognition; (5) the threat vs. action response dilemma; (6) the distinction between
active events and inactive events; (7) the connection of active events and powers afforded under exigent
circumstance; and (9) the response and the critical need to transition from tactical response to strategic response.

Moreover, the foundation of every successful investigation is a carefully constructed strategy, a step many
investigators skim over in the rush to get into the investigation, creating extra work for themselves and
jeopardizing the outcome. By planning an investigation thoroughly before beginning to collect evidence and
interview subjects an investigator reduces mistakes and is able to anticipate and clear hurdles.
 EFFECTIVE SPECIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION

Corollary this, an effective special; investigation strategy is one with systems to:
(1) identify and collect all available evidence (2) identify all the witnesses, victims, and possible
suspects; (3) accurately document the criminal event; (4) accurately document the investigative
actions; (5) develop theories of how the crime was committed and who may be a suspect; and (6)
formulate an investigative plan to make an arrest.

However, to be successful there is a need to avoid the three investigation errors, as follows:
(1) failing to identify and collect all the available evidence and information; (2) failing to effectively
analyze the evidence and information collected to identify suspects and form reasonable grounds to
take action; and (3) becoming too quickly focused on one suspect or one theory of events and
ignoring evidence of other viable suspect or theories that should be considered.
 INVESTIGATIVE TASKS VS. INVESTIGATIVE THINKING
To understand the process of investigation, it is necessary to comprehend the distinction between investigative tasks
and investigative thinking. Investigative tasks relate to the information gathering processes that feed into investigative
thinking and the results. Investigative thinking, on the other hand, is the process of analyzing information and
theorizing to develop investigative plans. Let us consider this distinction in a little more depth.

Investigative tasks, relates to identifying physical evidence, gathering information, evidence collection, evidence
protection, witness interviewing, and suspect interviewing and interrogation. These are essential tasks that must be
learned and practiced with a high degree of skill to feed the maximum amount of accurate information into the
investigative thinking process. Criminal investigation is aimed all collecting, validating, and preserving information in
support of the investigative thinking process. Accordingly, it is important to learn to do these evidence collection tasks
well.

Investigative thinking, is aimed at analyzing the information collected, developing theories of what happened, the way
an event occurred, and establishing reasonable grounds to believe. Those reasonable grounds to believe will identify
suspects and lead to arrest and charges. Investigative thinking is the process of analyzing evidence and information,
considering alternate possibilities to establish the way an event occurred and to determine if they are reasonable.
 “Nothing matters but facts. Without them,
the science of criminal investigation is
nothing more than a guessing game. ”

HOM — BLAKE EDWARDS