Goals

BASIC HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION CURRICULUM

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS


Goal 1: The investigator will understand the role, responsibilities, and interactions of the homicide investigator with the victim, victim family, suspects, prosecutor and courts, and general community.

Goal 2: The investigator will learn best practices to protect, secure, and preserve the crime scene and to deal with individuals and issues which occur at the onset of the investigation at the scene.

Goal 3: The investigator will understand the importance and relevance of maintaining crime scene integrity so that critical evidence, witnesses, and potential suspects are identified and documented and that information and evidence are preserved.

Goal 4: The investigator will recognize common types of homicides and have a basic understanding of offender motivations in such cases.

Goal 5: The investigator will learn how to process the crime scene in order to identify, collect, and preserve evidence.

Goal 6: The investigator will understand potential resources offered by and capabilities of a scientific laboratory.

Goal 7: The investigator will understand the duties and responsibilities of the coroner and the medical examiner.

Goal 8: The investigator will recognize and be able to utilize internal and external resources associated with homicide investigation.

Goal 9: The investigator will become familiar with the utilization of basic investigative techniques and approaches to develop suspect(s) in homicide investigations.

Goal 10: The investigator will develop an understanding of the intricacies and strategies for conducting a proper and productive interview or interrogation.

Goal 11: The investigator will learn methods for developing and ranking suspects and for collecting additional evidence which may eliminate suspects.

Goal 12: The investigator will understand the importance of identifying the victim, learning about his/her associates and lifestyle, and maintaining liaison with the victim’s family.

Goal 13: The investigator will understand the intricacies of maintaining the various aspects of a case, from first response through prosecution.

Goal 14: The investigator will understand the importance of appropriate documentation to the investigative and legal process.

Goal 15: The investigator will understand the necessary ingredients in crafting a written report detailing the investigative activity of a case that leads to a successful prosecution.

Goal 16: The investigator will understand the task of dealing with the media during the investigation, at prosecution, and after prosecution.

Goal 17: The investigator will understand the role of the prosecuting attorney during the investigation, during case preparation, and in the presentation of the case at trial.

Goal 18: The investigator will understand the importance of high ethical standards and behavior and how they relate to the duties of the homicide investigator.

Goal 19: The investigator will understand and recognize the nature of stress in the law enforcement workplace, particularly.