CRJ320 - WEEK 1 DISCUSSION 1

"What Makes an Effective Criminal Investigator?"

Please respond to the following:

From the e-Activity, determine the fundamental positive and negative characteristics of a criminal investigator. Include at least two (2) examples from real life or stories from television and newspaper to support your response. Note: Some popular television shows to consider include CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) and CSI: Miami or CSI: New York.

Some of the most favorable characteristics that make an effective criminal investigator include the ability to first be objective, analytical and procedurally correct.

As such the positive characteristics entail the following:

Deductive reasoning and acuity with high actuality
Acknowledgment of the exchange principle
Understanding differing modus operandi (during the investigative process)
Psychological value of interpretation of criminal intent
Actuality and clarity of dealing with facts and factual details
Evidential evidence being viewed as trace evidence and ability to analyze and withdraw
Good gut feeling – (leads) avenues of yes or no
Mental and Physical toughness to withstand rigor
Diverse and fair with races of populace
Mental precognitive recall of data and scene
Persistent, disciplined, tenacious and singular
Distant, intuitive, knowing
Write what you see and feel

With the negative characteristics reflective of the following:

Skepticism
Internal bias of lack of belief of confession or lack of confession
Professional and unfriendly
Lack of communicative interaction
Lack of concern for image
Mum the thought and word becomes DNA

Example One

CSI (Crime Scene Investigation)
Season 15: Episode 17 – Under My Skin

This reflective story entails a murder and subsequent investigation that revealed the kidnapping of two girls and the investigative techniques that I listed a criminal investigator should have and utilize. Parallel to the story as it is acted out is the conditional detailing of withdrawing and acquiring data to answer a prevalent question of who, why and what. As it proceeds the story reflects a correlating pattern of association of details to action of further investigation that proves an associative pattern to the prevalent question with acuity utilized and actuality revealed as a factual base.

Skepticism is also a characteristic that is highly desirable and reflective because the criminal investigators are not derailed from the trail because of internal bias and suspicion due to the planting of a dead person here and there which causes the why to holler again question and search for the reason why more and the who and the what.

Further the exchange principal and determining the modus operandi is searched for and the utilizing of a gut feeling and tenacity is almost vibrating as a bonding trait with deductive reasoning finding the leads to continue the search.

Admirable also is the lack of communicative interaction and lack of concern for image because of need to determine the what and who and the need to keep investigative processes secretive and quiet because mum the thought and word becomes DNA as such is a necessary trait and characteristic to solve any crime.

Example Two

What Are the Risks of Being a Crime Scene Investigator?
by Erin Schreiner
http://oureverydaylife.com/risks-being-crime-scene-investigator-11224.html

In reference to this article this relays that a correlating pattern that is supportive of my list of characteristics needed to be a criminal investigator as well as be a conscientious policeman. Because of the danger that is inherent in any form of police work this also support the need to use deductive reasoning and acuity with high actuality to promote the correctness of analyzed data and prevent retaliatory actions therefore actuality and clarity is of the utmost of importance.

Detailed work has to always be factual with evidential evidence being used as trace evidence to secure and be of such clarity and correctness that it does not and cannot be dismissed as an intentional bias attack.

Therefore, writing what you see and feel allows mental cognitive recall of data and scene with mental distant and analyzation. Also, skepticism is always necessary to don’t believe everything you see, feel or has been found because it can be a trail to mislead or may be almost viewed as a confession or not as confession. Further being fit mentally and physically is a characteristic that allows continuance in this field with fortitude to prevent burnout.

Consequently, the lack of communicative interaction is appropriate with Mum the thought and word as DNA becomes as silent and still as the mouse aflight.

Many criminal investigation articles suggest that there are positive and negative benefits to having police investigators specialize in certain fields of expertise (e.g. homicide, robbery). Place yourself in the role of the Chief of Police in an agency with one hundred (100) police officers, five (5) of which are general detectives who investigate every type of crime. Imagine your community is suffering from a rash of homicides. Determine the main pros and cons of training two (2) of the five (5) investigators specifically in homicide investigation in your agency. Provide a rationale to support your response.

As the Chief of Police, the main pros and cons of training two of the five general investigators specifically in homicide investigation in my agency would include the following:

PROS

Rapport
Supportive
Chain of Command
Educated and Trained Substitute or Representative
Mentor and Mentee Relationship
Sounding Board
Cognitive and Knowledge Exchange and Interactive
Equal
Similarity of Though Chain
Professional
Aloof and commands and demands respect
Good Experience

CONS

Promotional Opportunity
Confidentiality
Limited Authority
Competitive
Back Biting
Lack of Continual Loyalty

In support of my pros and cons invaluable knowledge can be exchanged as well as an opportunity to share and distribute training to be redistributed by them and then on until it becomes a chain. The relayance of expected behavior and training will further strengthen the ability to be a first class investigator and allow input and interaction from their experience as well as allow the traverse of my knowledge to them and others.

Thank you.

Felicia


CRIMINAL JUSTICE
WEEK 1 DISCUSSION
RESPONSE TO CO-STUDENT

I agree that impulse and working on just "gut feelings" is not conductive to getting on the trail or any trail. But as you stated, knowledge and training helps if the analytical skills are hone, ready and active.

Always look before jumping and making "calls" that cause a dispelling look of "what" at you in the career of being a policeman.

Cold reason is what is needed - not emotional baggage - see below and top simultaneously with a touch of clarity and not try to be too personally involved.

Communicate, absorb, research and go!

Thank you.

Felicia

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
QUESTION FROM INSTRUCTOR
WEEK 1 - DISCUSSION 1

Ok Felicia, based on what you presented as good characteristics of an investigator, which ones do you think you possess?

Dr. T

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
RESPONSE TO INSTRUCTOR
WEEK 1 - DISCUSSION 1

Hello, Dr. T.

All listed characteristics are mine along with a few others that I keep private.

Thank you.

Felicia