Второй год обучения

Семестр

Phases of investigation

The objectives of the investigator provide a convenient division of the investigation into three phases: (1) the criminal is identified; (2) he is traced and located; and (3) the facts proving his guilt are gathered for court presentation. This division is made for convenience of discussion, since the three phases are not necessarily separated in time but are usually fused throughout the investigation. The same evidence moreover can often be used for all three objectives.

Identifying the Criminal.

In the first stage the criminal is identified, i.e., some person is identified as the perpetrator of the criminal acts. Ordinarily the identity of the criminal is discovered in one or more of the following ways: confession, eyewitness testimony, or circumstantial evidence.

Tracing and Locating the Criminal.

The second phase of the investigation is concerned with locating the offender. Obviously many of the steps previously suggested for identifying the suspect will also lead to his location. Usually the crimi­nal is not hiding; he is simply unknown. In those cases, then, the prob­lem is primarily one of identification. In many cases, however, it is necessary to trace a fugitive who is hiding.