Prentice Hall, 2010. — 688 PagesISBN: 0135060575This book presents a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of criminal investigation, including documentation, suspect identification, and report writing. The book provides the latest techniques in crime detection, criminal apprehension and prosecution, collection and use of evidence and information, and detailed coverage of specific crimes.Criminal Investigation: The Art and the Science, Sixth Edition, presents crime detection as a dynamic field relying heavily on the past experiences of investigators as well as recent practical and technological innovations. It explores the many external variables that can influence the investigator's success and the specific methods of crime detection and prosecution of law available today. The text focuses on the steps and considerations observed in an actual criminal investigation. Each chapter begins with recent stories of real crimes that are investigated by the police and set the stage for the rest of the chapter.Criminal investigation represents a timeless and dynamic field of scientific study. This book, now in its third edition, was written with the perception that crime detection is a field that relies heavily on the past experiences of investigators as well as recent practical and technological innovations. The investigator's success in crime detection can be influenced by several external variables. For example, increased pressures by public-interest groups and courts of law have caused police supervisors to place greater emphasis on case management and officer accountability. In addition, because of increased social problems associated with drug abuse, criminal violence, and related gang activity, the public spotlight has focused more than ever before on methods of crime detection and successful prosecution of lawbreakers. Finally, because of the rising incidence of mass and serial murders in the last decade, more people are realizing the importance of a thoroughly investigated case and the reasons behind the occurrence of such crimes.This book is intended to meet the needs of students and others interested in criminal justice by presenting information in a logical flow, paralleling the steps and considerations observed in an actual criminal investigation. Additionally, it is designed to fulfill an ongoing need for a book that explains clearly and thoughtfully the fundamentals of criminal investigation as practiced by police officers on the job.The book is written with several observations in mind. First, as its title indicates, it is designed to blend scientific theories of crime detection with a practical approach to criminal investigation. It has been drafted on the assumption that sound criminal investigations depend on an understanding of the science of crime detection procedures and the art of anticipating human behavior. There is yet another critical observation made in the book: It recognizes that both the uniformed officer and the criminal investigator play important roles in the field of criminal investigation. The duties of each are outlined throughout the book while recognizing that there is a fundamental need for both to work in tandem throughout many aspects of the criminal investigation process.Finally, one underlying theme of the book is that as with all police endeavors, criminal investigation is a law enforcement responsibility that must be conducted within the framework of the U.S. Constitution and the practices of a democratic society. Consequently, court decisions and case studies have been quoted extensively for clarification of issues and general reader information. In summary, I am hopeful that this book will prove to be an engaging textbook that is descriptive of the duties of modern-day crime detection and police professionalism. For more efficient use, this book has been designed to follow closely standard curriculum format. Accordingly, each chapter ends with key terms, discussion questions, and a class project to aid in the instructional process.Michael Lyman is a member of the faculty of the Criminal Justice and Social Work Department at Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri. In addition to being a teaching faculty member, he serves the Department as the Director or Graduate Studies for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice and advisor of the Forensic Science Program. Prior to entering the field of college teaching, he was employed as a Special Agent for the Intelligence and Organized Crime Division (IOCD) of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and later as a Senior Intelligence Agent for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Dr. Lyman has authored several textbooks in criminal justice dealing with the areas of criminal investigation, policing, organized crime, and drug abuse. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Wichita State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia.Contents
Preface xvi
Acknowledgments
About the author
Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation
Foundations of Criminal Investigation
The Crime Scene: Field Notes, Documenting, and Reporting
Processing the Crime Scene
Follow-Up Investigative Processes
Identification of Criminal Suspects: Field And Laboratory Processes
Legal Issues in Criminal Investigation
Obtaining Information
Interviews and Interrogations
Criminal Intelligence and Surveillance Operations
Management of Informants and Undercover Operations
Crimes Against Persons
Death Investigations
Robbery
Assault and Related Offenses
Missing and Abducted Persons
Crimes Against Children: Child Abuse and Child Fatalities
Crimes Against Property
Theft-Related Offenses
Arson, Bombings, and Terrorism
Vice and Profit-Related Crime
Gangs, Organized Crime, and Drugs
White-Collar and Computer Crime
Prosecution
Preparation for Court
Collection and Preservation of Physical Evidence
Cases
Glossary
Index
