AJS 275. Criminal Investigation. Course Package

Transcription

1 AJS 275 Criminal Investigation Course Package Approved February 12, 2010

2 COURSE PACKAGE FORM Contact Person (s) Michael S. Messner Date of proposal to Curriculum Sub-committee: 02/12/10 Purpose: New _X_ Change Delete If this is a change, what is being changed? (Check ALL that apply) Update Prefix Title _X_ Learning Units _X_ Competencies Format Change Course Description Course Number _X Textbook Credits Prerequisite Effective Semester/Year Fall 2010 Spring 20 Summer 20 COURSE INFORMATION Prefix & Number: AJS 275 Title: Criminal Investigation Catalog Course Description: Theory of criminal investigation, crime scene procedures, case preparation, interviewing and basic investigative techniques. Credit Hours: 3 Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0 Prerequisite(s) NONE Co-requisite(s) NONE Does this course need a separately scheduled lab component? Yes Does this course require additional fees? If so, please explain. Yes _X No _X No Is there a similar course in the course bank? Yes (Please identify.) _X No Articulation: Is this course or an equivalent offered at other two and four-year universities in Arizona? No X Yes (Identify the college, subject, prefix, number and title: Coconino Community College AJS 250: Criminal Investigations

3 Writing Across the Curriculum Rationale: Mohave Community College firmly supports the idea that writing can be used to improve education; students who write in their respective content areas will learn more and retain what they learn better than those who don t. Courses in the core curriculum have been identified as Writing Across the Curriculum courses. Minimum standards for the Writing Across the Curriculum component are: 1. The writing assignments should total words. For example, a single report which is 1500 words in length OR a series of essay questions and short papers (example: four 375-word assignments) which total 1500 words could meet the requirement. 2. The writing component will represent at least 10% of a student s final grade in the course. Is this course identified as a Writing Across the Curriculum course? X Yes No (See addendum for writing rubrics) Intended Course Outcomes/Goals By the end of the semester, students will be able to: 1. Discuss the major goals of criminal investigations 2. Explain basic investigative responsibilities of documenting, searching and processing a crime scene 3. Identify how the Fourth Amendment strikes a balance between individual liberties and the rights of society. 4. Discuss the methods of investigating deaths, assaults, robberies and sex offenses 5. Explain why investigative techniques must be altered when dealing with child victims 6. Characterize the methods used to investigate crimes against property

4 Course Competencies and Objectives By the end of the semester, students will be able to: Competency 1 Give an overview of the investigative process Objective 1.1 Explain the basic function which investigators perform Objective 1.2 Express how crime scenes and evidence are protected Objective 1.3 State the responsibilities that are included in the preliminary investigation Objective 1.4 Evaluate the importance of res gestae statements Competency 2 Describe the techniques used for documenting a crime scene. Objective 2.1 Discuss the characteristics of effective investigative notes Objective 2.2 Cite the purposes of photographing crime scenes Objective 2.3 Identify the types of investigative photography Objective 2.4 Summarize the steps in sketching a crime scene Objective 2.5 Relate the admissibility of sketches and drawings in court. Competency 3 Articulate the importance of reports Objective 3.1 Assess a well-written report Objective 3.2 List the common problems that occur in many police reports Objective 3.3 Differentiate between facts, inferences and opinions Competency 4 Discuss legal searches and the Fourth Amendment Objective 4.1 Relate the basic limitations on searches Objective 4.2 Define the exclusionary rule and how it affects investigations Objective 4.3 Articulate when warrantless searches are justified Objective 4.4 Describe search patterns that are used for interior and exterior searches Objective 4.5 Depict the use of dogs in a search Competency 5 Describe the processing of physical evidence Objective 5.1 Discuss the common errors in collecting evidence Objective 5.2 Name the types of evidence found at crime scenes and how to collect, identify and package each. Objective 5.3 Characterize the admissibility of physical evidence in court. Competency 6 Discuss how information is obtained through interviews and interrogation Objective 6.1 State the goals of the interview and interrogation processes Objective 6.2 Differentiate between direct and indirect questions and the proper usage of each Objective 6.3 Identify interrogation techniques Objective 6.4 Discuss the process of questioning children and juveniles Objective 6.5 Analyze the role of a polygraph in criminal investigations Competency 7 Explain the process of identifying and locating suspects Objective 7.1 Discuss the four basic methods of identifying a suspect Objective 7.2 Discuss the use of surveillance, undercover assignments and raids Objective 7.3 Define arrest Competency 8 Describe the methods used in a death investigation Objective 8.1 Define the four categories of death Objective 8.2Explain the factors that are used to estimate the time of death Objective 8.3 Cite the role of the medical examiner Objective 8.4 Summarize the 10 most common errors in a death investigation Competency 9 Discuss the special challenges in investigating assaults Objective 9.1 Define assault and differentiate between simple and aggravated assault Objective 9.2 Discuss domestic violence investigations Objective 9.3 Define stalking Objective 9.4 Define elder abuse

5 Competency 10 Discuss the difficulty in investigating sex crimes Objective 10.1 Contrast human trafficking and human smuggling Objective 10.2 Explain the elements of sexual assault Objective 10.3 Describe the methods used to interview victims, witnesses and suspects Objective 10.4 Summarize the prosecution of rape and statutory charges Competency 11 Summarize the challenges in investigating crimes against children Objective 11.1 Identify the four common types of maltreatment Objective 11.2 Cite the two leading causes of child abuse Objective 11.3 Discuss police response to reports of child abuse Objective 11.4 Describe the three approaches law enforcement uses to combat child sexual exploitation Competency 12 Identify the methods used in investigating robberies. Objective 12.1 Define robbery Objective 12.2 Paraphrase the elements of the crime of robbery Objective 12.3 Describe the modus operandi of a robbery suspect Competency 13 Describe the investigative techniques used at a burglary scene Objective 13.1 Contrast burglary and robbery Objective 13.2 Name the most common method of entry Objective 13.3 Describe the types of physical evidence most commonly found Objective 13.4 Explain the measures that may be taken to prevent a burglary Competency 14 Give an overview of the crime of larceny Objective 14.1 Describe the two major categories of larceny Objective 14.2 Contrast fraud from larceny Objective 14.3 Identify the common types of check fraud Objective 14.4 Define white collar crime Competency 15 Describe the investigation process for motor vehicle thefts Objective 15.1 Explain the five major categories of motor vehicle theft Objective 15.2 Define VIN and its importance Objective 15.3 Discuss motor vehicle theft prevention techniques Competency 16 Explain the challenges in investigating arson Objective 16.1 Describe the elements of the crime of arson Objective 16.2 Define the fire triangle and why it is important Objective 16.3 Identify common igniters used in an arson Objective 16.4 Describe common burn indicators Objective 16.5 Explain how a fire normally burns Objective 16.6 Explain when a warrant is needed to investigate a fire scene Teacher s Guide Course Textbook, Materials and Equipment Textbook(s) Title Criminal Investigations 9 th Edition Author(s) Hess, Karen M / Orthmann, Christine Hess Publisher Delmar / Cengage Learning ISBN 13 ISBN Software/ Equipment Title Author(s) Publisher ISBN

6 Course Assessments Description of Possible Course Assessments (Essays, multiple choice, etc.) Exams standardized for this course? Midterm Final Other (Please specify): Where can faculty members locate or access the required standardized exams for this course? (Contact Person and Location) Example: NCK Academic Chair Office Essays 30% Student Presentations: 20% Chapter Quizzes (Multiple Choice) 20% Midterm & Final (Multiple Choice) 30% Are exams required by the department? Yes _X No If Yes, please specify: Learning Units Learning Unit Topic 1: Criminal Investigation: An Overview Competency: 1 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #1 Lecture / PowerPoint: Describe the elements of a criminal investigation including the equipment, technology and procedures used to facilitate the investigation Research: Read The CSI Effect : Does it Really Exist? NIJ Journal, March 2008 (Shelton, Donald E.) and explain how television can affect trial outcomes. Learning Unit Topic 2: Documenting the Crime Scene: Note Taking, Photographing and Sketching Competency: 2 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #2 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain how documentation of a crime scene is vital and be accomplished by field notes, photography, sketches and drawings. Laboratory Activities: Simulation: Have students plot objects at a mock crime scene using the Rectangular Coordinate, Baseline and Triangulation methods Learning Unit Topic 3: Writing Effective Reports Competency: 3 Objectives: Read Text Chapter #3 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain how a well written report helps the criminal justice system to operate efficiently, reduce liability and reflect positively on the officer who wrote it. Group Project: Read the material contained in Figure 3.3 and Figure 3.4. Analyze why one report is bad and the other is good.

7 Learning Unit Topic 4: Searches Competency: 4 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #4 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain the many kinds of searches and why a search must be firmly based on an understanding of legal restrictions Class Discussion: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having several officers search a crime scene. Learning Unit Topic 5: Forensic / Physical Evidence Competency: 5 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #5 Lecture / PowerPoint: Articulate that the primary purpose of investigations is to locate, identify and preserve evidence and that evidence is used to determine the facts in a case. Research: Analyze and evaluate the legal challenges to the use of forensic dentistry in criminal court. Learning Unit Topic 6: Obtaining Information and Intelligence Competency: 6 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #6 Lecture / PowerPoint: Describe the various methods of obtaining information from witnesses and those accused and how it is used to support physical evidence. Class Discussion: Has Miranda become such a routine police practice that it should never be overturned? Learning Unit Topic 7: Identifying and Arresting Suspects Competency: 7 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #7 Lecture / PowerPoint: Describe how suspects are developed, located, identified and then legally arrested. Student Project: Investigate why public opinion on racial profiling varies between Driving while Back and Flying while Arab. Learning Unit Topic 8: Death Investigations Competency: 8 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #8 Lecture / PowerPoint: Outline the special investigative techniques and skills that are used in a death investigation. Group Project: Read and discuss the questions for the two cases found in the Application section (page 289). Learning Unit Topic 9: Assault, Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Elder Abuse Competency: 9 Objectives: Reading Read Text Chapter #9 Lecture / PowerPoint: Describe assault and how domestic violence, stalking and elder abuse has become a priority for law enforcement. Research: Analyze the lower rate of elder abuse among minorities.

8 Learning Unit Topic 10: Sex Offenses Competency: 10 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #10 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain the modus operandi factors in sex crimes and how the social attitudes and the victim s embarrassment can be a challenge to the investigation. Case Study: Read Understanding and Applying Research on Prostitution, NIJ Journal, November 2006, pp and conclude how the research can help police identify a possible suspect in a prostitute homicide case. Learning Unit Topic 11: Crimes Against Children Competency: 11 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #11 Lecture / PowerPoint: Discuss the types of crimes that are frequently committed against children and the evidence needed to gain a successful prosecution. Group Project: Read and discuss the questions for the four cases found in the Application section (page 373). Learning Unit Topic 12: Robbery Competency: 12 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #12 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain how robbery can take many forms and how it is a definite hazard for law enforcement officers. Class Discussion: Scrutinize police techniques used in responding to a robbery-in-progress call and what can be done to reduce potential danger to the officers and the victim. Learning Unit Topic 13: Burglary Competency: 13 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #12 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain how burglary is a crime of opportunity and what measures can be taken to deter it. Research: Evaluate the frequency of burglary in the community and in the state. Over the past 5 years, is it increasing or decreasing? Learning Unit Topic 14: Larceny / Theft, Fraud and White-Collar Crime Competency: 14 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #14 Lecture / PowerPoint: Discuss how larceny is the most commonly committed property crime since the crime can take many different forms. Class Discussion: Explain why larceny is the most underreported crime in the United States

9 Learning Unit Topic 15: Motor Vehicle Theft Competency: 15 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #15 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain the process of investigating motor vehicle thefts and how it can provide information on other crimes Class Discussion: Contrast the motives and the types of vehicles stolen between juvenile offenders and professional auto thieves. Learning Unit Topic 16: Arson, Bombs and Explosives Competency: 16 Objectives: Reading: Read Text Chapter #16 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain the difficulty of arson investigation since most of the evidence is destroyed and the legal challenges which exist since both the fire department and the police department are involved in the investigation. Presentation: Ask the local fire marshal to explain his duties and how arson prosecution is locally conducted.