Week 3 Assignment 1 Submission
Assignment 1: Crime Scene Investigation
Due Week 3 and worth 160 points
Preliminary investigations do not necessarily yield enough information to prosecute a criminal case. Despite a thorough preliminary investigation, many cases require a follow-up investigation. Use your textbook, the Internet, and/or Strayer University Online Library (
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) to research articles within the past three years on crime scene investigation.
Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:
- Assemble a set of guidelines on conducting a preliminary investigation for a criminal case.
- Discuss at least one-way computer-aided investigations can be used in order to conduct an efficient follow-up investigation. Provide a rationale to support the response.
- Select two major crimes (e.g., human-trafficking, domestic violence, abuse of the elderly, sex-related crimes) and compare and contrast the key differences in reporting the two major crimes that you selected.
- Determine the four most important characteristics of an effective criminal investigator and discuss the importance of each characteristic you determined.
- Support or critique the argument that the criminal investigation process should maintain the balance regarding freedom of information through media outlets and privacy rights of alleged perpetrators of crime. Provide a rationale to support the response.
- Use at least three quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar types of websites do not qualify as academic resources.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
- This course requires the use of new Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details.
- Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow SWS or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
- Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
- Describe the major components of and responsibilities involved in the investigative process.
- Recommend improvements to the criminal investigation process in selected areas.
- Describe the procedures for the preparation of field notes and the documentation of a crime scene.
- Use technology and information resources to conduct research in the criminal investigation process.
- Write clearly and concisely about the criminal investigation process using proper writing mechanics.
Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following
rubric
.
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CRJ 320 – Criminal Investigation
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(Prerequisite: CRJ 105)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course introduces students to the fundamentals of criminal investigation by examining processes involved in identifying and arresting criminal suspects, identifying types of crimes and offenses, and in preparing for the in-court presentation of evidence through testimony. In addition, techniques and preservation for evidence collection and examination are discussed. Developing “high technologies” useful to the criminal investigator are explored.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Required Resources
Cho, H.L., Hess, K. M., & Orthmann, C. H. (2017). Criminal investigation (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage.
Microsoft PowerPoint (2016 version or newer)
Supplemental Resources
Giacalonoe, J. (2017). The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc.
Lushbaugh, C., & Weston, P. (2015). Criminal Investigation: Basic Perspectives (13th ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ:
Prentice Hall.
Lyman, M. (2016). Criminal Investigation: The Art and the Science (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Describe the major components of and responsiblities involved in the investigative process.
2. Recommend improvements to the criminal investigation process in selected areas.
3. Describe the procedures for the preparation of field notes and the documentation of a crime scene.
4. Evaluate the importance of search and seizure, processing the crime scene, collecting evidence, the criminal intelligence function, and the use of information resources in the investigative process.
5. Analyze the process of undercover and surveillance operations.
6. Analyze the procedures involved in making an arrest, conducting interviews and interrogations, and the importance of the accurate identification of suspects.
7. Recommend effective ways to apply the investigative process to violent crimes.
8. Describe effective ways to apply the investigative process to property crimes and financial crimes.
9. Describe effective ways to apply the investigative process to drug offenses, organized crime, and other dangerous groups.
10. Explore the nature and investigative processes of investigating terrorism.
11. Predict changes that will take place in criminal investigation in the next twenty (20) years.
12. Describe effective ways to apply the investigative process to cybercrime.
13.
Evaluate the role of the criminal investigator in preparing evidence for presentation and courtroom testimony.
14. Use technology and information resources to conduct research in the criminal investigation process.
15. Write clearly and concisely about the criminal investigation process using proper writing mechanics.
WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE
The standard requirement for a 4.5 credit hour course is for students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This includes preparation, activities, and evaluation regardless of delivery mode.
Week
Preparation, Activities, and Evaluation
Points
1
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 1: Criminal Investigation: An Overview
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet or the Strayer University Online Library (https://research.strayer.edu) to research articles on the criminal investigative process (e.g., initial report, initial investigation/police contact, incident review/case screening, follow up investigations, case preparation and approval, prosecution and charging of crime, and conclusion) conducted by a criminal investigator. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· None
20
2
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 2: Documenting the Crime Scene: Note Taking, Photographing, and Sketching
· Chapter 3: Writing Effective Reports
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· None
20
3
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 4: Searches
· Chapter 5: Forensics / Physical Evidence
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet or the Strayer University Online Library (https://research.strayer.edu) to research articles on conducting the investigatory search, and take notes on goals of the search. Next, research the “elephant-in-a-matchbox” doctrine. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· Assignment 1: Crime Scene Investigation
20
160
4
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 6: Obtaining Information and Intelligence
· Chapter 7: Identifying and Arresting Suspects
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet or the Strayer University Online Library (https://research.strayer.edu) to research articles on the Reid, Kinesic, and Peace Methods of interrogating suspects. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· Quiz 1: Chapters 1 through 5
20
60
5
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 8: Death Investigations
· Chapter 9: Assault, Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Elder Abuse
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· None
20
6
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 10: Sex Offenses
· Chapter 11: Crimes Against Children
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· Quiz 2: Chapters 6 through 9
20
60
7
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 12: Robbery
· Chapter 13: Burglary
· Chapter 14: Larceny / Theft, Fraud, and White-Collar Crime
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· Assignment 2: Death Investigations
20
200
8
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 15: Motor Vehicle Theft
· Chapter 16: Arson, Bombs, and Explosives
· Chapter 18: A Dual Threat: Drug Related Crime and Organized Crime
· e-Activities
· Use the Internet or the Strayer University Online Library (https://research.strayer.edu) to research the opioid crisis in the U.S. Take notes on commonly abused drugs and the responses to the opioid crisis. Take notes on the criminal investigation process and be prepared to discuss. Next, use the Internet or the Strayer Library to research the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) article entitled “ODMAP: A Digital Tool to Track and Analyze Overdoses,” found at https://nij.gov/publications/Pages/notes-from-the-field-opioid-epidemic-beeson. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· Quiz 3: Chapters 10 through 14
20
60
9
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 19: Criminal Activities of Gangs and Other Dangerous Groups
· Chapter 20: Terrorism and Homeland Security
· e-Activities
· Use the Internet or the Strayer University Online Library (https://research.strayer.edu) to research articles within the last three years (3) on a criminal investigation of illegal gang activities within a city of your choice. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· None
20
10
Preparation
· Reading(s)
· Chapter 17: Computer Crime: Impact and Prevention
· Chapter 21: Preparing for and Presenting a Case in Court
· e-Activity
· Use the Internet or the Strayer University Online Library (https://research.strayer.edu) to research a current activity, bulletin, and/or tips of your choice, from https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas (U.S.-CERT the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team) website. Be prepared to discuss.
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· Assignment 3: The Big Stage!
20
200
11
Preparation
· Reading(s): None
Activities
· Lecture(s)
· Discussion
Evaluation
· Quiz 4: Chapters 15 through 21
20
60
GRADING SCALE – UNDERGRADUATE
Assignment
Total Points
% of
Grade
4 Quizzes (open book with 2-hour time limit each quiz)
(For Quiz 1–3, 20 questions each, worth 3 points apiece; for Quiz 4, 40 questions, worth 1.5 points apiece)
240
24%
Assignment 1: Crime Scene Investigation
160
16%
Assignment 2: Death Investigations
200
20%
Assignment 3: The Big Stage!
200
20%
Participation (10 discussions worth 20 points apiece)
Note: Week 11 discussion is not graded.
200
20%
Total
1,000
100%
Points
Percentage
Grade
900 – 1,000
90% – 100%
A
800 – 899
80% – 89%
B
700 – 799
70% – 79%
C
600 – 699
60% – 69%
D
Below 600
Below 60%
F
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CRJ 320 Student Version 1192 (12-03-2018) Page 1 of 6
