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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ADMJD061.
Course Title (CB02)
Criminal Investigation
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course provides students with the fundamentals of criminal investigation such as techniques of crime scene search and recording; collection and preservation of physical evidence; use of scientific aids; modus operandi processes; sources of information; interviewing techniques.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is in a CTE program and is CSU transferable. This course belongs on the Administration of Justice A.A. Degree in Law Enforcement. This course was developed in response to an advisory board recommendation for a criminal investigation course. This course provides the student with knowledge of the fundamentals of crime investigation, scene search, and evidence development. It is a C-ID course.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
AJAdministration of JusticeApprovedC-ID AJ 140

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

ADMJ D003. or PARA D003. or POLI D013. (may be taken concurrently) or ADMJ D075. or PARA D075. or POLI D075. (may be taken concurrently)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

ANTH D007.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Field observation and field trips

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Class discussions and exercises
  2. Mock crime scenes
  3. Reading
    1. Assigned readings from text
    2. Handouts

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Oral assignments involving class discussion and exercises where students will show an understanding of criminal and crime scene investigation
  2. Objective and essay midterm and final examinations that will show student knowledge of the principles and procedures of criminal investigation with questions based on lectures, individual and group assignments, media aids, and utilization of crime lab equipment with evaluation based on a rubric.
  3. Written assignments showing a systematic evaluation and documentation of a mock crime scene based on a rubric evaluation.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Swanson, Charles R., et.al.Criminal InvestigationMcGraw-Hill Publications, New York, N.Y.2018

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Orthmann,C.H.& Hess,K.M. "Criminal Investigation," 11th Edition, Belmont, CA. Cengage Learning, 2017
Ogel,R.R.and Plotkin, S. "Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction." 4rd Edition, San Francisco, California:Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2018
Young,T.J. & Ortmier,P.J. "Crime Scene Investigations: The Forensic Technician's Field Manual", San Francisco, California: Pearson Publishing, 2011

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Identify the role of documentation and construct investigative reports from notes to create a record of the criminal investigative process.
  • Recognize the implications and apply techniques to locate, identify, and preserve evidence in a criminal process
  • Describe the characteristics, morals and ethics necessary of criminal investigators
  • Demonstrate and discuss the evolutionary stages of the criminal investigative process
  • Identify procedures for first responders to crime scenes
  • Demonstrate the techniques required for crime scene management
  • Identify and appraise methods of scientific analysis of evidence
  • Demonstrate appropriate investigative interviewing and interrogation techniques required to obtain information and interact with a diverse community
  • Compare and contrast available sources of information for investigators
  • Describe the role of criminal investigators in the judicial process

CSLOs

  • Analyze the concepts and fundamentals of criminal investigation and discuss how their ultilization affects substantive investigations.

  • Demonstrate the ability to construct an investigative diagram of a crime scenario.

Outline

  1. Identify the role of documentation and construct investigative reports from notes to create a record of the criminal investigative process.
    1. Chronological notes
    2. Investigative checklist
    3. Principles of reporting
  2. Recognize the implications and apply techniques to locate, identify, and preserve evidence in a criminal process
    1. Chain of custody
    2. Fingerprints
      1. Discovery
      2. Preserving
      3. Automated Fingerprint Identification System
    3. Chemical techniques
    4. Casting imprints
      1. Footprints
      2. Tire prints
    5. Blood
      1. Stains
      2. Blood spatter analysis
    6. Seminal stains
    7. Fibers, threads, and hair strands
    8. Tool marks
    9. Firearm evidence
  3. Describe the characteristics, morals, and ethics necessary for criminal investigators
    1. Development of characteristics
      1. Suspicion
      2. Curiosity
      3. Factors of Observation
      4. Five senses
    2. Unfounded complaint syndrome
    3. Rapport
    4. Bias and prejudice
    5. Patience and courtesy
    6. Credibility
    7. Exhibitionism
    8. Ethics
    9. Remaining qualified
  4. Demonstrate and discuss the evolutionary stages of the criminal investigative process
    1. Definition of investigation
      1. Preliminary
      2. Follow-up
    2. Crime elements (Corpus delicti)
    3. Methods of operation (Modus operandi)
    4. General to specialized assignments
  5. Identify procedures for first responders to crime scenes
    1. Receipt of information
      1. Method of response
      2. Getting to the scene safely
    2. Providing emergency care
    3. Crime scene control
    4. BOLO alerts
    5. Crime scene determination
    6. Protecting evidence
  6. Demonstrate the techniques required for crime scene management
    1. Overall Coordination
      1. Assigned Case Agent
      2. Power to call additional resources
      3. Coordinate all investigative activities
    2. Selection of Search method
    3. Crime scene walk-through
    4. Methods of sketching and diagrams
    5. Photographing
      1. Pre-search photography
      2. Guidelines for photographing crime scenes
  7. Identify and appraise methods of scientific analysis of evidence
    1. Firearms
      1. Firearms identification
      2. Restoration of obliterated serial numbers
      3. Firearms tests
      4. Bullet flight tracking
    2. Trace evidence
    3. Serology
      1. Tests for the presence of blood
      2. Tests for the presence of semen
    4. Blood alcohol and gas chromatography analysis
    5. Toxicology
      1. Death causes
      2. Crime suspected
    6. Narcotics
      1. Field tests for the presence of narcotics
      2. Lab tests for the presence of narcotics
    7. Latent prints
      1. Laser development
      2. Power
      3. Latent fingerprint development products
    8. Forensic polygraph
      1. Stipulated polygraph examination
      2. Factors that may prohibit polygraph examination
    9. Voice identification
      1. Computerized technology
      2. FBI laboratory
    10. Forensic entomology
    11. Infrared viewers
    12. Crime DNA
  8. Demonstrate appropriate investigative interviewing and interrogation techniques required to obtain information and interact with a diverse community
    1. Principles of interviewing
      1. Planning the interview
      2. Assessing the subject
      3. Standard approaches to interviewees
      4. Standard procedures for interviewing
      5. Age and gender factors
      6. Ethnic and cultural factors
    2. Interrogations
      1. Background Information
      2. Establishing rapport
      3. Understanding personality types
  9. Compare and contrast available sources of information for investigators
    1. Methods of acquiring information
      1. Communication
      2. Search and research
      3. Observation
      4. Physical properties
    2. Procedural guidelines
    3. Development and maintenance of sources
      1. Public records
      2. Private records
      3. Informants
      4. Privacy and confidentiality
      5. Ethics
    4. Police Records
      1. Crime and miscellaneous reports
      2. Automated criminal records
      3. Warrants and teletypes
      4. Rap sheet
    5. Hearsay information
    6. Evaluation of information
  10. Describe the role of criminal investigators in the judicial process
    1. Preparing a case for the District Attorney
    2. Additional follow-up for the District Attorney
    3. Assisting District Attorney during the trial
    4. Testifying in court
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