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Criminal Investigation- is an art which deals with the identity and location of the offender and
prove his guilt in a criminal proceeding. (Dr. Pedro S. Solis)
Criminal Investigation- it is the systematic method of inquiry that is more a science than an art.
The logic of scientific method must however, be supplemented by the investigator's initiative and
resourcefulness. The sequences of the investigation should be regarded by scientific, operating
framework that requires improvising on the part of the investigator. (Charles Swanson Jr., Neil
Chamelin and Leonard Territo)
Investigator- is the person who is charged with the duty of carrying out the objectives of criminal
investigation.
- is an individual who gathers documents and evaluates facts about crime
Special Crime Investigation- deals with the study of major crimes based on the application of
special investigative techniques.
- the study concentrates more on physical evidence; it’s collection, handling,
identification and preservation in coordination with the various criminalists in the
crime laboratory. Special crime investigation involves close relationship between
the investigator in the field and the investigator in the laboratory- the Criminalist.
1. Discover whether or not an offense has been committed under the law.
2. After determining what specific offense has been committed, he must discover how, when,
where, why, what offense was committed.
1. Information (Interview)- knowledge which the investigator gather and acquire from different
sources.
Kinds of Information depend on who give the information where the information is
collected.
Sources of Information
2. Interrogation- this is the process of questioning witnesses and suspect to obtain further
information.
- Its effectiveness depends with the craft, logic and psychological insight with the
information relevant to the case as they were discovered.
Kinds of Interrogation/interview
1. Custodial 2. Tactical
Purposes of Interrogation
Rules in Confession
Voluntarily – means that the accused speak of his free will and accord, without inducement of
any kind and with the full and complete knowledge of the nature and consequences of the
confession.
Freely- when the speaking is so free from the influence affecting the will of the accused at the
same time the confession was made.
1. the ability of the eyewitness testimony to observe and remember the relative “distinctiveness”
of the accused appearance
2. The prevailing conditions, visibility and observation
3. The lapse of time between the criminal event and identification
1. Verbal Description- portrait parley vividly describing in words the appearance of a person by
comparing and thru personal appearance.
2. Photographic files (rogues gallery)
3. General photograph- files of photograph in any given establishment.
4. Artist Assistance or composite sketches- drawing or sketching the description of a person’s
face by the cartographer
5. Police line-up- selecting the suspect from a group of innocent persons to eliminate the power
of suggestions as factor of identification
Cartography- the art of sketching the image of a person or the art of making map
1. Face-forehead, eyebrow, mustache, eyes, ears, cheeks, mouth, lips, teeth, chin, jaw, etc.
2. Neck- shape, length, Adam’s apple
3. Shoulder- width and shape
4. Waist- size, shape of the abdomen
5. Hands- length, size, hair, condition of the palms
6. Fingers- length, thickness, stains, shape of nails and condition
7. Any deformities (cross eyed, limping and etc.)
8. Teeth-
9. Gait
1. Mug Shot
2. Artist Drawing
3. Composite Sketches
4. Verbal description or Portrait Parley
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Homicide Investigation
It is the official inquiry made by the police on the facts and circumstances surrounding the
death of the person which is expected to be criminal or unlawful.
1. Homicide investigator when called upon to investigate a violent death, stand on the
dead man’s shoes, to produce his instincts against those suspects.
Consequently, the zeal, enthusiasm, and intelligence the investigator brings in
the case marks the difference between murderer being convicted or set free.
2. If the investigator interprets an intentional death as due to natural death the family
may be deprived of benefits and other properties which the deceased have sacrificed
to obtain.
During the conduct of autopsy, an investigator can observe first hand and ask questions
pertinent to the case under investigation. The medico-legal officer can explain the autopsy
findings as they progress. As the results of the autopsy are received by the investigator such
information, if pertinent and requiring expeditious investigative attention, can be passed along to
the other investigators for immediate handling. When the investigator has a suspected weapon,
comparison of the weapon with the wound can be made. The officer present at the autopsy can
be the liaison with the investigation team working on the case and see that all evidence is
obtained during the examination.
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Necropsy Report- It is a document stating the cause of death of the victim. This is the medico-
legal report.
Suspended Animation
1. Cardiac activity, breathing and functioning of the nervous system may reach such a low-level
activity that a homicide investigator maybe deceived into an assumption of death.
2. The following conditions produced simulated appearance of death:
1. electric shock
2. prolonged emersion
3. poisoning from narcotic drugs
4. barbiturate poisoning
5. certain mental diseases
Methods of Identification
a. Fingerprints
Fingerprint identification is the most positive and quickest method of ascertaining identity.
However the prints of the deceased may not be on file or may not be obtainable because
of trauma, mutilation, incineration or decomposition. The sole clue maybe bone, a skull or
a few teeth.
b. Skeletal Studies
Examination of the skeleton may provide a basis for identification because of individual
peculiarities such as old fractures and presence of metal pins. Bones may also provide
information about age, sex, and race.
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c. Visual Inspection
Someone knowing the deceased person may recognize the victim. However, trauma,
incineration, or decomposition may render the features unrecognizable. In addition, a
visual inspection without further verification has the advantage of possible subjective
error or deliberate false identification. Visual inspection combined with fingerprint
evidence is a favored method for rapid identification.
d. Personal Effects
Identification of a victim by personal effects such as Jewelry, I.D. card, wallets, belts,
shoes etc.
e. Tattoo and Scars
Identification scars, moles, tattoos, pockmarks or other markings may be helpful in
identification, particularly in conjunction with other findings.
f. Dental Evidences (Forensic Odontology)
Identification based on the examination of teeth (teeth charts, fillings, inlays crowns,
bridgework, dentures etc.) is valuable inasmuch as the teeth are probably the most
durable part of the human body. There are probably no two people alive with dentures
that are completely identical in all respects. Dental evidence is legally recognized and
accepted, if properly presented in court.
g. Clothing
Articles of clothing containing cleaner’s mark, labels, initials, size, color, texture knitting,
etc. have provided investigators with the leads and even identification in most instances.
h. Photographs
Identification of victims has been made by publication in bulletins, circulars, television and
other distribution media, artist sketches, death mark and casts have likewise aided the
police in identifying unknowns.
Investigative Leads
The problem of who did it is a simple on when the offender is caught in the act or
apprehended in flight from the scene the scene shortly after the crime. When the perpetrator is
not promptly arrested, the direction of the investigation varies according to whether the case falls
into one of the two categories- known identities or unknown identity. Whenever investigators
encounter cases of the later, investigative leads now are necessary to attain the objective of
criminal investigation.