AJ 8 - Criminal Investigation

Transfer Status

CSU

Unit(s)

3.00

• Lecture: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)
• Total: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course addresses the techniques, procedures, and ethical issues in the investigation of crime, including organization of the investigative process, crime scene searches, interviewing and interrogating, surveillance, source of information, utility of evidence, scientific analysis of evidence and the role of the investigator in the trial process. Graded only. (C-ID AJ 140).

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and explain the role of documentation in the criminal investigative process.
2. Recognize, identify and explain the implications of a given piece of evidence in a criminal process.
3. Identify critical ethical issues relating to criminal investigation.
4. Describe successive evolutionary stages of the criminal investigative process.
5. Identify procedures for first responders to crime scenes.
6. Describe the duties related to the basic functions of crime scene management (management control, evidence search and processing, general area investigation).
7. Identify role of forensic examination in a criminal investigative process.
8. Compare and contrast the legalities and strategies of interview and interrogation.
9. Identify key information sources and data systems available to investigators.
10. Explain the role of the investigator in the judicial process.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

1. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
2. Lecture
3. Multimedia Presentations

1. Projects
2. Homework
3. Objective and subjective examinations/quizzes, Case analysis, In class exercises/presentations

Reading Assignments

1. Read and outline the chapter on assault and turn it in at the next class meeting.
2. Read the chapter on domestic violence and identify the key points in the chapter. Come to class prepared to discuss.

Writing Assignments

1. Read the chapter on searches, write a minimum two-page outline, and submit to the instructor at the next class meeting.
2. Research a current law enforcement topic, as assigned by the instructor, and write a minimum 2500-word research paper on the topic.

Out-of-Class Assignments

1. Read and summarize an article on a local crime and come to class prepared to discuss what you learned.
2. Research the California Penal Code regarding assault with a deadly weapon and submit a one-page summary of your findings.

Orthmann, C., & Hess, K. (2012). Criminal Investigation. Delmar Cengage Learning, 10th.

Other Learning Materials

Handouts

Audio-Visual Materials

Evidence Materials

Library Reference Texts

Administration of Justice

Law (Masters Required)