Criminal Investigation

Catalog description

Approaches criminal investigation conceptually. Students consider the social issues involved in criminal investigation, as well as ethical and legal aspects of it. The course covers such topics such as the principles of criminal investigations, the rules and procedures of preliminary and follow-up investigations, the art of interrogation, recording of statements, confessions, and the collection and preservation of physical evidence at the crime scene. Emphasis is placed on the need for meticulous adherence to rules of law and ethical practices, as an investigation proceeds from initial actions to arrest, and eventual prosecution. The course also examines the methods used in scientific interpretation of evidence and the preparation of criminal cases for trials, as well as its role in today’s criminal justice system.