Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology
CJ 312: Criminal InvestigationSpring 2011 /
CJ 312: Criminal Investigation CJ 211 Spring 2011 3.0 TTH 11:00 to 12:15pm SH 418
Course Number & Title Prerequisite Semester/Year Credits Class Hours Classroom
Dr. Gordon A. Crews, Professor Phone: 304.696.3083 (Voice Mail) Office: Smith Hall 740D
Email: Office Hours & Days: TUE: 8:00-11:0am WED: 9:00-12:00pm THUR: 2:00-4:00pm
REQUIRED TEXT: NO REQUIRED TEXT for this course! Required readings will be handed out in class.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Investigation methodology, relations of the detective with other police divisions; modus operandi; sources of information; surveillance, interrogation, follow-up procedures. (PR: CJ 211)
DESIRED LEARNER OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES: Our main goal is to understand how the investigative function of law enforcement actually works, not what we see on television, but how it works in the real world. In our efforts to “fight” crime, criminal investigations is one of the most important activities we can have, therefore, it must be done correctly. In order to achieve our main goal, we will:
1. Trace the origins of the Criminal Investigator and the development of Criminalistics.
2. List the desirable characteristics of the investigator.
3. Be familiar with the organization and administration of investigative divisions within law enforcement agencies.
4. Define the three major phases of a criminal investigation.
5. Understand the various types of note-taking.
6. Comprehend the purposes of the police report.
7. Describe the elements of a well-written report.
8. Understand the importance of proper crime-scene protection.
9. Explain the methods of searching a crime scene.
10. Describe the procedures associated with victim and witness interviews.
11. Be aware of legal requirements related to suspect interviews.
12. Understand the three major investigative areas concerning the crime of burglary.
13. Define the four major categories of robbery.
14. Explain the areas of forensic science that apply to a homicide investigation.
15. Explain the investigative procedures used for rape investigations.
16. Understand the crime of larceny including frequency, objects of theft and offender characteristics.
17. Be familiar with physical and mental effects of dangerous drugs.
18. Explain the principles of the undercover operation.
19. Describe fingerprint patterns.
20. Discuss categories of eyewitness identification.
21. Understand the importance of solid patrol-investigator relationships.
DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Describe and apply basic criminal justice information and concepts
2. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills relevant to criminal justice
3. Use appropriate social science and/or legal research and skills and resources to complete original research in criminal justice
4. Effectively communicate in both oral and written formats using discipline-appropriate vocabulary and dialogue
5. Recognize and apply ethical principles of the discipline in regard to research, use of sources, collaboration with colleagues, and principled decision/policy making
6. Successfully enter into discipline-appropriate employment as a professional in criminal justice or, if desired, continue education in graduate and/or law school
7. Demonstrate comprehension of discipline-appropriate technology, including computer hardware and software
GRADING SCALE: A = 90 – 100 B = 80 – 89 C = 70 – 79 D = 60 – 69 F = 59 and below
EVALUATION OF LEARNER OBJECTIVES/COURSE REQUIREMENTS (Grades will be based on the following requirements):
Score SheetRequirement / Points / Your Score / Due Date
Mid Term / 300 / March 1, 2011
Student Power Point Lecture / 400 / Starting March 29, 2011
Final Exam / 300 / Thursday, May 5 @ 10:15-12:15pm
Total Possible Points / 100.0
· MID TERM (300 points): A Mid Term will be given during regular class time on March 1, 2011. This exam will consist of questions developed from lectures given and reading assigned from the first day of class through the Mid Term (generally short essays). A review session will be given during regular class time on FEBRUARY 24, 2011.
· STUDENT POWERPOINT LECTURE (400 points): Starting MARCH 29, 2011. Student Lectures will occur on various assigned topics. Each student will give a 15-20 minute "lecture" on different topics (topics will all be randomly selected on the first day of class!). Students are required to develop this presentation into a PowerPoint presentation and submit a one page document pointing out the highlights of their discussion to be given to all other students for review material AT THE TIME OF THEIR PRESENTATION [SEE ATTACHED FOR MORE INFORMATION]. All student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score.
· FINAL (300 points): A final will be given on date given above. This exam will consist of questions developed from lectures and student lectures given since the Mid Term. This exam is not expected to be cumulative unless a student did not take the Mid Term exam.
COURSE OUTLINE: The below outline is subject to change to meet the needs of the class.
Course ScheduleLecture # / Day / Date / Lecture/Activity / Assigned Reading
Tue / January 11 / Introduction to Course/Overview of Syllabus
Assignment of Topics
1 / Thur / January 13 / THE CSI EFFECT
· The Good
· The Bad
· The Ugly / Handouts Given as Required Readings
2 / Tue / January 18 / THE INVESTIGATOR
· History: Origins and Trends
· Responsibilities and Attributes / Handouts Given as Required Readings
3 / Thur / January 20 / THE INVESTIGATOR
· History: Origins and Trends
· Responsibilities and Attributes
4 / Tue / January 25 / PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
· Discovery
· Preservation
· Collection
· Transmission/Development
· Interpretation
· Investigative Value / Handouts Given as Required Readings
5 / Thur / January 27 / PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
· Discovery
· Preservation
· Collection
· Transmission/Development
· Interpretation
· Investigative Value
6 / Tue / February 1 / PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
· Discovery
· Preservation
· Collection
· Transmission/Development
· Interpretation
· Investigative Value
7 / Thur / February 3 / PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
· Discovery
· Preservation
· Collection
· Transmission/Development
· Interpretation
· Investigative Value
8 / Tue / February 8 / PEOPLE AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION
· Interviews: Obtaining Information from Witnesses
· Interrogation: Purpose and Principles/ Suspects and Hostile Witnesses
· Informants: Cultivation and Motivation
· Eyewitness Identification: Guidelines and Procedures / Handouts Given as Required Readings
9 / Thur / February 10 / PEOPLE AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION
· Interviews: Obtaining Information from Witnesses
· Interrogation: Purpose and Principles/ Suspects and Hostile Witnesses
· Informants: Cultivation and Motivation
· Eyewitness Identification: Guidelines and Procedures
10 / Tue / February 15 / PEOPLE AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION
· Interviews: Obtaining Information from Witnesses
· Interrogation: Purpose and Principles/ Suspects and Hostile Witnesses
· Informants: Cultivation and Motivation
· Eyewitness Identification: Guidelines and Procedures
11 / Thur / February 17 / PEOPLE AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION
· Interviews: Obtaining Information from Witnesses
· Interrogation: Purpose and Principles/ Suspects and Hostile Witnesses
· Informants: Cultivation and Motivation
· Eyewitness Identification: Guidelines and Procedures
12 / Tue / February 22 / PEOPLE AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION
· Interviews: Obtaining Information from Witnesses
· Interrogation: Purpose and Principles/ Suspects and Hostile Witnesses
· Informants: Cultivation and Motivation
· Eyewitness Identification: Guidelines and Procedures
Thur / February 24 / REVIEW FOR MID TERM
Tue / March 1 / MID TERM / ALL material from first day of course until this point!
Thur / March 3 / ACJS Conference (Research Day) / No Class Meeting
13 / Tue / March 8 / THE TANGIBLE AS SOURCE OF INFORMATION
· Records and Files: Investigative Uses and Sources—Public and Private/Nurtured Resources or Arid Archives?
· Surveillance: A Fact-Finding Tool—Legality and Practice
· Reconstructing the Past: Methods, Evidence, Examples / Handouts Given as Required Readings
14 / Thur / March 10 / THE TANGIBLE AS SOURCE OF INFORMATION
· Records and Files: Investigative Uses and Sources—Public and Private/Nurtured Resources or Arid Archives?
· Surveillance: A Fact-Finding Tool—Legality and Practice
· Reconstructing the Past: Methods, Evidence, Examples
15 / Tue / March 15 / MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
· Control Over Investigations Through Constitutional Law
· Evidence and Effective Testimony
· Miscarriages of Justice / Handouts Given as Required Readings
16 / Thur / March 17 / MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
· Control Over Investigations Through Constitutional Law
· Evidence and Effective Testimony
· Miscarriages of Justice
Tue / March 22 / SPRING BREAK / NO CLASS
Thur / March 24 / SPRING BREAK / NO CLASS
Tue / March 29 / Student Presentations / All student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Thur / March 31 / Student Presentations / Remaining student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Tue / April 5 / Student Presentations / Remaining student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Thur / April 7 / Student Presentations / Remaining student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Tue / April 12 / Student Presentations / Remaining student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Thur / April 14 / Student Presentations / Remaining student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Tue / April 19 / Student Presentations / Remaining student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Thur / April 21 / Student Presentations / Remaining student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Tue / April 26 / Student Presentations / Remaining student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score
Thur / April 28 / Review for Final
11:00 to 12:15pm / Exam Date & Time / Thursday, May 5, 2011 10:15-12:15pm / All Assigned Readings/ All Class Lectures since Mid Term
Student PowerPoint Lecture (400 Points)
All student names will be thrown into a hat and drawn at random ~ if you are not in the room and ready to present AND have your one page outline for the rest of the class, you will receive a zero, if only presentation and no hand out, 100 pts will be automatically deducted from your final presentation score!!!!
Students are expected to give a 15-20 minute “Lecture/Presentation” (an overview of their assigned topic) in ANY FASHION they wish, but it must consist of the following at a minimum:
MAKE IT INTERESTING, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT, BUT DO NOT GET ME FIRED OR PUT IN JAIL!
· Starting MARCH 29, 2011, Student Lectures will occur on various assigned topics. Each student will give a 10-15 minute "lecture" on different topics (topics will all be randomly selected on the first day of class!). Students are required to develop this presentation into a PowerPoint presentation and submit a one page document pointing out the highlights of their discussion to be given to all other students for review material AT THE TIME OF THEIR PERSENTATION.
· 15-20 minute timeframe for you to use, but add another 5 minutes for class discussion!
· Use PowerPoint and include visuals (I will help you make anything you need!)
· Think outside the box, do not be boring!
· Do not just hit basics, go beyond!
· DO NOT READ ANYTHING TO CLASS, well, a little bit maybe!