Goal #1 Objective A

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Objective A:
Without the use of the course text or class notes, the student will identify the definition of criminal investigation.

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To begin the discussion about criminal investigation, the term "crime" should be defined.

crime -
An act committed or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it for which the possible penalties for an adult upon conviction include incarceration, for which a corporation can be penalized by fine or forfeit, or for which a juvenile can be adjudged delinquent or transferred to criminal court for prosecution.
Schmalleger, F.(1995)Criminal Justice Today, 3rd Ed, Prentice Hall:New Jersey

It can then be concluded that a criminal is a person who commits a "crime."

What is an investigation?

investigation -
To observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry.
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary(1979) G & C Merriam Co:Springfield, MA

This means that a criminal investigation can be defined as:
The systematic collection of information for identifying, apprehending, and convicting suspected offenders.

The collection of information must be systematic because there may be legal and/or scientific rules that must be followed in order for the information to be admissible into a court of law.

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Continue to Goal #1 - Objective B.
Return to Course Learning Goals Page

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