High-profile criminal investigations create a strange problem: the more attention a case receives, the harder it can become to think about it calmly. Investigators may face nonstop media coverage, public speculation, political…
Category: Criminal Procedures
Managing Decision Logs During Complex Criminal Investigations
Complex criminal investigations produce more than evidence. They produce decisions – lots of them. Investigators decide which scenes to prioritize, which forensic examinations to request, which witnesses need urgent interviews, when to…
Integrating Investigative Hypotheses Into Criminal Case Planning
Every criminal investigation begins with incomplete information. Investigators may know that an offence happened, but they rarely know exactly how it happened, who was involved, why it occurred, or which pieces of…
Developing Evidence-Led Strategies for Major Crime Investigations
Major crime investigations can become complicated incredibly fast. A homicide, kidnapping, organized crime case, or other serious enquiry may generate hundreds of exhibits, witness accounts, CCTV clips, phone records, forensic submissions, intelligence…
Applying the PEACE Interview Model in Complex Criminal Enquiries
A complex criminal investigation is rarely solved by asking one perfect question. Investigators may need to interview victims, witnesses, suspects, professionals, and people whose role in the case is still unclear. Their…
Assessing Scene Contamination Risks in Forensic Reconstruction
A crime scene can change long before a forensic scientist begins examining it. Police officers may enter to provide emergency assistance. Paramedics move through the area. Witnesses may have touched objects before…