Criminal Detection & Investigation

NOTES ON CRIME DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION

CDI-1: FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION


CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION – is an art which deals with the identity and location of the offender and provides evidence of guilt through criminal proceedings.

INVESTIGATION DEFINED: The collection of facts to accomplish a three-fold aim:
to identify the guilty party;
to locate the guilty party; and
to provide evidence of his guilt.

PRIMARY JOB OF AN INVESTIGATOR
The primary job of the investigator is to discover whether or not an offense has been committed under the law, after determining what specific offense has been committed, he must discover how it was committed, by whom, where it was committed, when and why it was committed (Cardinal points of Investigation 5W’s and 1H).

SIX CARDINAL POINTS OF INVESTIGATION
WHAT specific offense has been committed? Nature of crime
WHERE crime was committed? Place or location
WHEN it was committed? Time and date
WHOM it was committed? Persons/s involved
WHY it was committed? Reason or motive of
Committing the crime
HOW it was committed? Manner, method or modus
operandi

QUALITIES OF A GOOD INVESTIGATOR
Perseverance
Intelligence
Honest
Understanding of the people and environment
Keen power of observation

TRAINING
Training, as one of the foundations of investigation, is concededly a vital ingredient in the creation of a total investigator. Experience alone does not make one good investigator. Many who had been hostage to this notion often ended in jeopardy. The ideal conjugal partnership is training and experience. The fusion of the best training and vast experience is a formidable force that can threat even the most sophisticated technology and syndicated crimes. The necessity of training as a purveyor of change builds the investigator’s confidence. It widens his vision for professional growth and strengthens his will to survive and prevail over crises.
The National Forensic Science Training Institute (NFSTI) under the Philippine Public Safety College is the institution that trains uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police to become a certified investigator.

THREE TOOLS OF INVESTIGATION

INFORMATION
It is the knowledge/data which an investigator acquired from other persons and records.

Classes of Information
Regular Sources – records, files from government and non-government agencies, news items.
Cultivated Sources – information gathered upon initiative of the investigator from informants, vendors, taxicab driver, GRO, and others.
Grapevine Sources – these are information coming from the underworld characters such as prisoners and ex-convicts.
INTERVIEW AND INTERROGATION
INTERVIEW – Is a conversation with a purpose, motivated by a desire to obtain certain information from the person being interviewed as to what was done, seen, felt, heard, tasted, smell or known.
This is the questioning of a person believed to possess knowledge that is in official interest to the investigator.

BASIC ASSUMPTIONS
Nobody has to talk to law enforcers. No law compels a person to talk to the police if he does not want to. Therefore, people will have to be persuaded, always within legal and ethical limits, to talk to law enforcers. This makes interviewing an art.

I.R.O.N.I.C. FORMAT
The interview of a witness can be described by its acronym ‘IRONIC’ which stands for Identity, Rapport, Opening Statement, Narration, Inquiry, and conclusion.
Identity – prior to the commencement of an interview, the investigator should identify himself to the subject by name, rank and agency.  Except, when there is no need to know the officer’s identity.
Rapport – it is good to get the positive feeling of the subject towards the investigators, such friendly atmosphere is a vital for both the subject and the investigator t have a better interaction.
Opening Statement – the investigator must have to indicate why the subject is being contracted.
Narration – the witness should be allowed to tell all he knows with little interruptions from the investigator.
Inquiry – after all information have been given by the subject, that is the time for the investigator to as question to clarify him about the case under investigation.
Conclusions – after the interview, it is but proper to close the interview with outmost courtesy and thanking the subject for his cooperation.

RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN QUESTIONING
One question at a time
Avoiding implied answer
Simplicity of the questions
Saving faces
Avoid close ended questions (yes or no)

INTERROGATION –is a questioning of a person suspected of having committed an offense or a person who is reluctant to make full disclosure of information in his possession which is pertinent to the investigation.

What are the purposes of Interrogation?
To obtain confession to the crime
To induce the suspect to make admission
To learn the facts of the crime
To learn the identity of the accomplice
To develop information which will lead to the recovery of the fruits of the crime
To discover the details of other crimes participated by the suspect

INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES
Emotional Appeal
Place the subject in the proper frame of mind.  The investigator should provide emotional stimuli that will prompt the subject to unburden himself by confiding. Analyze the subject’s personality and decide what motivation would prompt him to tell the truth, and then provide those motives through appropriate emotional appeals.
Sympathetic appeal
The suspect may feel the need for sympathy or friendship when he is apparently in trouble.  Gestures of friendship may win his cooperation.
Kindness
The simplest technique is to assume that the suspect will confess if he is treated in a kind and friendly manner.
Extenuation
The investigator indicates he does not consider his subject’s indiscretion a grave offense.
Shifting the blame
The interrogator makes clear his belief that the subject is obviously not the sort of person who usually gets mixed up in a crime like this. The interrogator could tell from the start that he was not dealing with a fellow who is a criminal by nature and choice.
Mutt and Jeff
Two (2) Agents are employed.
Mutt, the relentless investigator, who is not going to waste any time because he knows that the subject is guilty.
Jeff, on the other hand, is obviously a kind-hearted man.
Bluff on a Split Pair
This is applicable when there is more than one suspect. The suspects are separated and one is informed that other has talked.
Pretense of Physical Evidence
The investigator may pretend that certain physical evidence has found by laboratory experts against him.
Jolting
May be applied to calm and nervous subjects by constantly observing the suspects, the investigator chooses a propitious moment to shout a pertinent question and appear as though he is beside himself with rage.  The subject may be unnerved to the extent of confessing:

CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION/INVESTIGATION – is the questioning of a law enforcement officer on a person under custody and otherwise deprived of his freedom or liberty. This is the stage in investigation where there is strict observance of the Miranda Doctrine.

MIRANDA DOCTRINE – this case which entitled Miranda vs. Arizona, is a US Supreme Court Jurisprudence which laid down the constitutional rights of the accused during custodial investigation. It was incorporated in our 1973 Constitution and later in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines.


INSTRUMENTATION
It is the application of instruments and methods of physical science to the detection of crimes.  In cases where there are no significant physical evidence to be found, then the use of instrumentation is relatively unimportant.

PHASES/STAGES OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Identification of criminals
Tracing and locating the criminal
Gathering of evidence to prove the guilt of the criminal

IDENTIFICATION OF CRIMINALS

METHODS OF IDENTIFYING CRIMINALS
By confession or admission of the criminal himself
Identification by accounts or testimonies of eyewitnesses
Identification by circumstantial evidence
Identification by associative evidence
Identification by the Method of Operation (Modus Operandi)

CONFESSION– is the direct acknowledgement of guilt arising from the commission of a crime.

Types of Confession
Extra-Judicial Confession – those made by the suspect during custodial investigation.
Judicial Confession– those made by the accused in open court. The plea of guilt may be during arraignment or in any stage of the proceedings where the accused changes his plea of not guilty to guilty.

ADMISSION– is a self-incriminatory statement by the subject falling short of an acknowledgement of guilt. It is an acknowledgement of a fact or circumstances from which guilt maybe inferred. It implicates but does not incriminate. It is also an acknowledgement that a fact, action or circumstances are true which strongly infer or directly admit guilt but lacks the detail of the elements of the crime.

RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN TAKING CONFESSION OR ADMISSION
Confession or admission must be taken preferably in writing and under oath
It must be written in the language known and understood by the accused, if not it must be clearly translated
It must be freely and voluntary given by the accused
Under the New Constitution, it must be taken in the presence of competent and independent counsel chosen by the accused

KINDS OF CRIMINALS IDENTIFIED BY WITNESSES
Known criminals
Unknown criminals
Methods of Identification by witness
Verbal description
Photographic files (Rogues Gallery)
General Photograph
Artist sketch (Composite Criminal Illustration)
The value of identification by eyewitness depends on:
The ability to observe and remember distinct appearance of suspect;
Prevailing condition of visibility;
The lapse of time.
What are the procedures of identification by eyewitness?
Physical line-up – is a means of selecting a suspect from a group of innocent persons usually composed of seven to ten persons.  The purpose of line-up is to eliminate the power of suggestion.
Physical show-up – only one person is shown to the witness usually at the scene of the crime and made immediately after the arrest of the suspect.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE - facts or circumstances from which, either alone or in connection with other facts, the identity of the person can be inferred.

What must be inferred to prove identity by circumstantial evidence?
Motive – is what induces the criminal to act
Intent –is the result or accomplishment of the act
Opportunity –is the physical possibility that the suspect could have committed the crime.
It could be inferred from the following:
The suspect could have been in the vicinity of the crime scene at the time it was committed.
Knowledge of the criminal objective.
Absence of an alibi on the part of the criminal.

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TO IDENTIFY CRIMINALS

CORPUS DELICTI– is the body of the crime or fact of specific loss or injury sustained. It constitutes the essential parts or elements in the commission of the crime.
ASSOCIATIVE EVIDENCE – these are the pieces of evidence that will link the suspect to the crime scene.  The suspect may leave some clues at the scene such as weapons, tools, garments or prints.
TRACING EVIDENCE – articles which assist the investigator in locating the criminal. Stolen goods in the possession of the suspect in an example of tracing evidence.
MODUS OPERANDI – is the method of operation by a specific criminal or criminal syndicate. It is a distinct pattern of how a crime is committed and is established by a series of crimes under one classification. The modus operandi of one criminal is distinct and different from the other. It is a criminal trademark, logo or brandname.

TRACING AND LOCATING THE CRIMINALS

INFORMANT – is a person who gives information to the police relevant to a criminal case about the activities of criminals or syndicates.

TYPES OF INFORMANTS
Anonymous informant – do not wish to be identified.
Rival elimination informant – to eliminate competition.
False informant – reveals information of no consequence or value.
Frightened informant – motivated by anxiety.
Self-aggrandizing – hangs about the fringes of the criminals.
Mercenary informant – gives information for a price.
Double crosser informant – to get more information from the police.
Woman informant – female associate of the criminals.
Legitimate informant – operators of legitimate business establishments.
MOTIVES OF INFORMANTS
Vanity
Civic-mindedness
Fear
Repentance
Avoidance of punishment
Competition
Revenge
Jealousy
Remuneration

SURVEILLANCE – is the secret observation of persons, places,and vehicles for the purpose of obtaining information concerning the identities or activities of the subject.
Surveillance of Place (fixed/ stake-out)
Shadowing
Roping

SURVEILLANT – is the person who maintains the surveillance or performs the observation.

SUBJECT – the person or place being watched or surveyed.

KINDS OF SURVEILLANCE
Surveillance of places
Tailing or shadowing
Undercover investigation or roping

How to conduct surveillance of place?
A careful survey of the surrounding area should be made.  The character of the neighborhood, residents and transient should be noted.  The observation point should be selected properly.  When observation is conducted from a ‘plant’, surveillance agents must be extremely careful not to reveal their true activity.  Observation maybe made through a window or other aperture so as to be unnoticed from the outside.  Venetian blinds afford the best coverage, but may appear to be out of place of some buildings.  An alternative is to lower the roller of draw shades another inch from the window.  Binoculars are generally essentially equipment of the plants, as they facilitate positive identification of person entering or leaving the place under and observation.  A still or video camera with telephoto lens can also be used effectively.  Agents should take careful notes of what they observe and should record detailed descriptions of all individuals entering the target.  A chronological log is usually the best of recording pertinent occurrences.

TAILING OR SHADOWING – is the act of following a person, depends on the number of surveillant available, volume of pedestrian traffic and importance of concealing the surveillance.

METHODS OF SHADOWING
One man –extremely difficult and should be avoided, if unavoidable keep subject in view at all times.
Two man – two agents are employed to follow the subject.
ABC method – reduces the risk of losing the subject, affords greater security agents detection.
Progressive/Leap from method – poor chances of obtaining good results, agents are stations at a fixed point assuming that subject followed the same general route each day.
Combined foot-auto surveillance – employment of surveillants on foot and agents in an automobile.

What are the things that should be avoided during shadowing?
Don’t meet the eye of the subject
Don’t adopt a slinking, sleuthing, creeping manner
Don’t wear story book disguises
Don’t carry noticeable items
Don’t greet fellow agents
Don’t make notations ostensibly


How to detect foot surveillance?
A subject who is suspicious of being under surveillance may resort to trickery in order to verify his suspicion.  When a subject resort to such trickery, it is good policy to change agents, for the suspect may have ‘spotted’ one or more of his surveillants.
stopping abruptly and look back
casually looking around
reversing course/retracing steps
boarding bus and alighting just before they start
riding short distance on bus
circling the block on a taxi
entering a building and leaving immediately via another exit
stopping abruptly after turning a corner
using convoys
watching reflection in shop windows
walking slowly and rapidly at alternate intervals
dropping a piece of papers to see if anyone retrieves it
stopping to tie a shoe string, meanwhile looking around for surveillants
arranging with a friend in a shop, stores or other places to watch for surveillants.
How to elude foot surveillance?
Common method to elude foot surveillance in which surveillants must be prepared and guard against are the following:
jumping off a bus, trains just as the doors are about to close
leaving a building through the rear or side exits
losing one self in crowds
entering theaters and leaving immediately through an exit
pointing out one surveillant to a police to a generally require the agent to explain his action
using decoys
taking the last taxi at a stand
changing clothing

AUTOMOBILE SURVEILLANCE
The methods of auto surveillance to be used depends upon the numbers and type of surveillance vehicles available, the volume of vehicular traffic in the area, the importance of concealing the surveillance from the subject, and the subject’s estimated ability to detect and elude surveillance.  At all times each vehicle should be occupied by at least two agents; one to concentrate on driving, and the other to observe, take notes, operate radio equipment, or to dismount and continue the surveillance on foot.

How to detect automobile surveillance
As in the case of foot surveillance, a subject who believes he is being followed may resort to trickery in order to verify his suspicions.  Some of the common tricks employed:
Alternate fast and slow driving
Driving into dead-end streets
Frequency parking
Committing flagrant traffic on one way streets, and running through red lights
Stopping suddenly around curves or corners
Pulling into driveways
Speeding up a hill, then coasting slowly down
How to elude automobile surveillance
Committing traffic violations
Using double entrances to driveways; in one and out the other
Curbing through parking lots
Driving through congested areas
Deserting the vehicle behind curves or corners, but permitting the drivers to drive on as a decoy.
UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION – is a form of investigation in which the investigator assumes a different and unofficial identity in order to obtain information.

DEFINITIONS
Undercover- an investigative technique in which the Agent’s/Investigator’s official identity is concealed to accomplish an investigative mission.
Natural cover- using the individual’s true identity, occupation or profession.
Artificial cover- the manufacture of documents, false documents, passports, or forged documents.

GATHERING EVIDENCE

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
It is the conduct of processes, more particularly, the recognition, search, collection, handling, preservation and documentation of physical evidence to include the identification and interview of witnesses and the arrest of suspect/s at the crime scene.

SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operation) – Republic Act6975 as Amended by Republic Act 8551 (PNP Law). The former law placed the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory as an Operational Support Unit. The Crime Laboratory established the so-called Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) which is field operation. This is now an innovation because the SOCO now gathers all evidence at the crime scene and takes custody of them, marking and tagging them which otherwise the duty of the criminal investigator before.

What Constitute a Crime Scene?
Crime scene can be understood to include all areas in which the criminal, any possible victim and any eyewitness move during the time the crime was committed.
The boundaries must be established so that the entire crime scene can be effectively preserved.
In some crimes, however, the crime scene may actually comprise several different sites.

GOLDEN RULE AT CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Never touch, move, or alter any object at the crime scene unless it has been photographed, measured, and sketched from any conceivable angle.

UPON RECEIPT OF THE CRIME INCIDENT

The Desk Officer shall:
Record the date and time the report/complaint was made, the identity of the person who made the report, place of the incident and a synopsis of the incident.
Inform his superior officer or the duty officer regarding the report.

The First Responder shall:
Cordon off the crime scene with whatever available materials like ropes, straws, human barricade, police line, etc.;
Evacuate injured persons to the nearest hospital;
Prepare to take the “dying declaration” of severely injured person, if any;
Prevent entry/exit of persons within the cordoned area; and
Prepare to brief the investigator of the situation upon their arrival.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION PROPER
A.  Receipt of Briefing and Designation of Command Post
Command Post – an area which, is ideally located adjacent to the Crime Scene where the CSI Evidence Custodian stays and receives the pieces of evidence turned over to him for safekeeping by the other evidence collectors.

Initiation of Preliminary Survey (Team Leader of CSI or SOCO)
Makes a general assessment of the scene;
Takes a cautious walk- through of the crime scene;
Takes down extensive note to document important factors;
Establishes the evidence most likely to be encountered;
Defines the extent of the search area;
Determines the personnel and equipment needed and makes specific assignments; and
From his assessments, he develops a general theory of the crime scene.

Preparation of Narrative Report
The Team leader uses the systematic approach in making a narrative report.

Documentation of the Crime Scene
The photographer begins taking photographs as soon as possible. The evidence collectors do not touch or moved any evidence once it is located until it has been identified, measured and recorded.

PHOTOGRAPHING THE CRIME SCENE
The main objective crime scene photography is to create an accurate objective visual record of the crime scene before any item ismoved as possible physical evidence.

MAJOR TYPES OF PICTORIAL VIEWS
General View or Long-Range – photograph of the over-all scene.
Distance:  From the doorway to the room and other corners of the room
Mid-Range View
Distance: Eight or ten feet from the victim
Close-up View – every physical evidence must be photographed in close-up view and for different angles.

CRIME SCENE SKETCHES
A rough sketch is prepared indicating the actual measurement of things with scale and proportion observed and oriented to the North Pole.  All necessary information is placed in the sketch.

ELEMENTS OF SKETCH
Measurement
Compass direction
Essential items
Scale and proportion
Legend
Title

SPECIFIC KINDS OF SKETCHES
Sketch of Locality- give picture of the scene, the crime and its environs, including neighboring buildings, roads, etc.
Sketch of the Ground- picture of the scene of the crime with its nearest physical surrounding.
Sketch in Details – the immediate scene only.
Exploded/ cross projection – gives the clear impression of the scene in cases where blood stains or bullet holes are found.

SKETCHING METHODS
Neighborhood sketch
Elevation Sketch
Floor Plan Sketch
Detailed Sketch

TYPES OF MEASUREMENTS
Rectangular coordinates method – a sketching method that involves measuring the distance of an object from two fixed lines at right angles to each other.
Triangulation method – a sketching method that requires measuring the distance of an object along a straight line from two widely separated fixed reference points.
Baseline method– a sketching method that makes measurements along from a single reference line, called a baseline, which can be established by using a length of string, chalk line, or some other convenient means.
Compass point method– a sketching method that requires a protractor or some method of measuring angles between two lines. One point is selected as the origin and a line extending from the origin becomes an axis from which the angles can be measured.
Cross projection method – a sketching method in which the ceiling appears to open up like a lid of a hinged box, with the four walls opening outward. Measurements are then indicated from a point on the floor to the wall.

CRIME SCENE SEARCH
A crime scene search could only be started after it has been photograph and sketched to systematically look for physical evidence that may prove useful in establishing that a crime has been committed and to determine what method of operation the perpetrator may have used.

METHODS OF SEARCH
Strip or Line Search Method – the searchers will proceed at the same pace along the path parallel to one side of the rectangle.
Double Strip or Grid Method – is a combination of the strip search and is useful for large crime scene.
Spiral or Circular Method – the searchers will follow each other in the path of a spiral, beginning in the outside and spiraling towards the center or vice versa in a clockwise or counter clock-wise direction.
Quadrant of Zone Method – the area to be searched is divided into four quadrants and each searcher is assigned to one quadrant.
Wheel, Radial or Spoke Method – is applicable for area which is considered to be approximately circular or oval. The area is then divided into six quadrants in a pie-like fashion.

Notes Taking
Note taking must be a constant activity throughout the processing of the crime scene.Notes must include:
Detailed written description of the Crime Scene with locations of recovered physical evidence;
The time when the physical evidence was discovered;
The person who discovered and collected the physical evidence;
The time when evidence was packaged and marked; and
The disposition of the item when it was collected.

F. Collection of Physical Evidence
The competence to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is critical to both solving and prosecuting crimes.
The team leader is always informed of significant evidence located.  The evidence collectors shall put his initial, location and date of collection on the item and turn it over to the evidence custodian for documentation and safekeeping.

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE – these are the articles and materials which are found in connection with the investigation and which aid in establishing the identity of the perpetrator or the circumstances under which the crime was committed or which, in general assist in the prosecution of criminal. It embraces any object, living or inanimate, solid, liquid, or gas state.

What are the procedures needed for the care of physical evidence?
In order to introduce physical evidence in court, three important factors must be considered:
The article must be properly identified
Chain of custody must be proved
The evidence must be material and relevant

CHAIN OF CUSTODY
It is the number of persons who handled and possessed the pieces of evidence the moment they were collected, marked and tagged, up to the time of the final disposition of the case.

G. Conduct of Final Survey
The team leader makes a final review on the crime scene to determine whether or not the processing has been completed.

H. Release of the Crime Scene
The release of the crime scene is done if the investigator is satisfied that all pieces of evidence have been recovered. Thus, the investigator must evaluate the items recovered from the results of the interrogations of the suspect/s and the interview of the witnesses.  He must bear in mind that upon the formal release of the crime scene to the proper authority, the warrant is already required for his re-entry to the crime scene.