Criminal Investigation

The stages of the investigation process

Initial response to reported crime

The initial response to reported crime in regards to the discovery of the vehicles and of Aileen Wuornos was primarily down to phone calls made to the police department.  However, in one of instance the vehicle of one of Wuornos’s victims was discovered by members of the police department whilst out on patrol.  The initial response to reported crime is a vital stage of the in any criminal investigation as it involves the official record being made that details the crime, it is this record that subsequently leads to a judgment taking place by the police to decide if a criminal offence has occurred.  If the police conclude that a criminal offence has taken place they will need to ascertain whether any other public service, such as the paramedic, will need to attend the scene of the crime in order to treat any injuries sustained to the individual/s.  The documentation/ records that detail the recording of the criminal offence would be the first logical process in the criminal investigation and so should be detailed and accurate as they will be referred to in court.  The initial response to reported crime is one of the more significant stages as it is the first process to occur in any criminal investigation; therefore it is essential that it is carried following the correct procedure. 

 

Preliminary and Follow-up Investigations

The preliminary investigation will involve members of the police department, such as the First Attending Officer (FAO), identifying if there is any particular individual who is thought to be involved in the crime and whether the evidence present at the scene of the crime is of a nature that suggests that further investigation and additional services are required.  The information regarding the scene of the crime will be relayed from the First Attending Officer (FAO) to higher ranking officers,working as part of the criminal investigation,regarding details such as; the severity of the injuries that the individuals involved in the crime have sustained if necessary, the location of the scene of the crime, any individuals who have witnessed the crime taking place and any individuals that have been apprehended.  The preliminary and follow-up investigations play an essential part in various forms of criminal investigation as they enable the decision to be made, based on evidence and the if there are any suspects, as to whether any further lines of enquiry are necessary.  For example in the case of Aileen Wuornos all victims were located in a secluded area and the evidence that the members of the police force discovered was enough to carry out further lines of enquiry such as establishing a parameter to carry a search for further forensic evidence or any other individuals who may be injured.  It was also necessary that the scene of the crime was protected from members of the general public and the media in order to protect any forensic evidence from contamination or destruction.  Following the information being relayed by the First Attending Officer (FAO) the various other services can then carry out the follow-up investigations.  For example, the forensic evidence gathered from the scene of the crime will be identified and gathered, by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), and transported to the forensic laboratory for further analysis.  The detectives working on the criminal investigation will subsequently make enquiries regarding the progress of the forensic evidence analysis.  The preliminary and follow-up investigations are essential in the positive outcome of a criminal investigation as, if carried out following the correct procedures and practice; they can be used in court to assist in either the conviction or dismissal of any individual/s on charge for the crime.

 

The Investigation Plan

The investigation plan will be required to be carried out with efficiency to enable a positive outcome of the criminal investigation.  The investigative process will involve the establishment of the further enquires that need to take place in relation to the particular crime that has occurred.  The investigative plan is carried out, in logical order, following the preliminary and follow-up investigations as the stage focuses on deciding the solution to various questions such as what will be achieved as a result of further enquiries surrounding the criminal investigation taking place.  The investigative plan, in the case of the victims of Aileen Wuornos, was to carry out further lines of enquiry surrounding the discovery of each of the victims and vehicles that were located in secluded areas of Florida.  The purpose of the investigative plan would also be to ensure that the appropriate additional services with the knowledge regarding the severity of the crime.  The form of criminal offence that has occurred will reflect the priority, for example a crime that has involved a homicide would take priority over a crime involving a burglary.

 

Incident Room

The incident room will be used in a criminal investigation that requires the police, that specialise in asking the appropriate questions, to listen and respond appropriately and accordingly to statements that are made by any witnesses who ring the number that has been set up to call if you are a witness or have information relating to the crime.  The use of the incident room in a criminal investigation is an effective method that enables the collection and interpretation of the calls that are received.  The calls made to the incident room are recorded and may be used in the court as evidence.  Although an incident room was not required in the case regarding Aileen Wuornos they are effective in cases regarding crimes related to children as a high volume of calls are received by the police.

Investigating Leads

The investigation leads is a stage in the criminal investigation that involves a plan being devised that focuses on the progression of the analysis of the forensic evidence that has been collected from the scene of the crime.  It may be necessary as part of a particular criminal investigation to conduct a further investigation, in order to gather information, by asking members of the community if they have seen anything in relation to the crime that has taken place.  The process of investigating leads is vital to the positive outcome of a criminal investigation as it enables the collection and interpretation of evidence that can be used in court for either the prosecution or defence.  In the case of Aileen Wuornos there were numerous investigative leads that needed to be followed, such as the analysis of fingerprints identified on the beer cans located in the vehicles a victim that would need to be analysed in order to identify a match which would subsequently require the police to apprehend the suspect. 

 

Researching and Analysing Intelligence Systems

It is essential when researching and analysing intelligence systems that the correct resources are used in order to achieve a positive outcome.  The detectives working on the criminal investigation will use various research and analysis intelligence systems in order to establish the individual who is carrying out the criminal offence, what weapon was used in the crime, at what time approximately the crimes are taking place and the location of the crime.  The process of researching and analysing intelligence systems will also enable a pattern, if applicable, to be identified.  In the case of Aileen Wuornos this stage of the criminal investigation would have been essential as there were numerous victims and the use of the aforementioned systems would have enabled the link to be established.  The information acquired can subsequently be used to inform the members of the criminal investigation when necessary. 

 

Gathering and Analysing Facts

It is vital when gathering and analysing facts that the correct protocol is followed to ensure the validity of the evidence as it may be required to be used in court as evidence.  There are a variety of methods that can be used to gather and analyse facts such as witness statements and forensic evidence.  In the case of Aileen Wuornos a range of methods were used in order to gather and subsequently analyse facts regarding the criminal investigation, such as the identification and collection of forensic evidence from the crime scene by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) that was transported to the laboratory for analysis by a forensic scientist.  The conclusions drawn from the analysis of the forensic evidence will then be documented/ recorded and used as evidence as part of the gathering and analysing facts process of the criminal investigation.

 

Identifying Patterns and links

The identification of patterns and links is essential in a criminal investigation as it enables further information to be gathered that subsequently helps to build a strong case, founded upon knowledge gained from the process of gathering and analysing facts also, to be built that can be presented to the court in order to achieve a positive outcome.  It makes logical sense for the identification of patterns and links stage in the criminal investigation to take place following the gathering and analysing facts stage as it enables the known information to be built upon.  In the case of Aileen Wuornos the pattern, although discovered at a late stage, enabled the police department to be aware of the fact that all of the victims were of a certain age and were all male. 

 

Process of Elimination

The process of elimination is vital to the criminal investigation as it enables the police to question any witnesses that have come forward further, identify the findings gathered as a result of analysis of the forensic evidence, establish what direction the criminal investigation is taking and also look at the findings of the criminal investigation as a whole.  In the case of Aileen Wuornos the various witnesses would have been questioned by the police and the results obtained from the forensic evidence would be analysed in order to identify the next stage of the criminal investigation that needs to take place.

 

Ethical Considerations; Use of Press, Media and Other CJS Agencies

The use of the press and media can either assist or hinder a criminal investigation as it can help to reassure the public and appeal for witnesses or the suspect to come forward but on the other hand it can present report false stories that affect the outcome of the investigation.  Following the arrest of Aileen Wournos the media intrusion in this case prior to its trial was ethically wrong.  Politics and movie deals that resulted in the re-election of a politician and the sacking of police offers impacted on the public’s perception of the case.

 

Report Writing and Presentation of Evidence in Court

The reports and presentations of evidence in court must be detailed, accurate and carried out using the correct procedures in order to achieve a positive outcome of the criminal investigation.  The court, during the trial, will be presented with numerous reports from various members of the criminal investigation process.  In the case of Aileen Wuornos the findings from the following members of the investigation would be required; the pathologist, medical examiner, Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), forensic scientists, detectives, witnesses, police officers etc.