Goal #3 Objective B
Objective B:
Without the use of course text or class notes, the student will identify issues on collecting information from records and files.
Records and Files:
- Law Enforcement Records
- Information Science
- Crime Pattern Analysis
- Microcomputers: Crime Mapping and Proactive Resource Allocation
- Other Public Records
- Business Records
Law Enforcement Records -
LE Records and Files are normally arranged by
- Case Report Number
- Type of Offense
- Name of Offender
- Name of Victim
- Location
- Date & Time of Occurrence
- Relevant Facts of the Case
Records and files are maintained by federal, state, and local law enforcement
agencies.
Information Science -
Networked computer systems allow law enforcement agencies to input, store
and access on demand a wide variety of information.
Instant cross checks of information and manipulation of data fields allows
investigators to quickly move through volumes of data to pin-point desired
information.
Crime Pattern Analysis -
Crime data collected from internal and external sources.
internal sources -
patrol
investigations
communications
reports
special units
external sources -
victims
witnesses
courts
corrections agencies
probation and parole agencies
crime commissions
community groups
Possible Analysis Results
- identify possible suspects of a crime
- list crimes having common offenders
- identify crime trends and potential targets
- prepare crime maps by type and locations of crime, or by residences of
known offenders
- identification of suspect by modus operandi
Microcomputers: Crime Mapping and Proactive Resource Allocation -
Computers can be used to generate daily, weekly, monthly and special reports
and maps which ad a visual dimension to identifying crime patterns and trends.
This information can be useful in determining the "real-time" deployment of law
enforcement manpower and investigative resources.
Other Public Records -
Public records are maintained by federal, state, and local government agencies.
The investigator must identify the type of information sought and where the likely
repository for that information is located.
Examples of public records
court records
vital statistics (birth, marriage and death certificates)
Business Records -
The investigator must identify the most common commercial establishments that
keep records and must have an awareness for the information compiled.
Examples of private businesses that keep reliable records
- financial institutions
- insurance companies
- accounting firms
- airlines (sometimes)
- credit card companies
When dealing with private records remember it may be appropriate to get the
owner's consent, a court order or a search warrant. Many business owners are
more comfortable with a court order or search warrant because of civil liability
issues.
Continue to Goal #3 - Objective C.
Return to Course Learning Goals Page
