Investigation Flashcards
What are working rules otherwise known as, and where are these developed and learned from?
Heuristics, developed from on the job experience and learned from colleagues.
What do working rules provide?
A framework that guides understanding of situations faced and material required.
How does working experience affect working rules?
Working rules are limited by an investigators experience, which can impact on their ability to make decisions, and also cause difficulties when investigations are audited and performance judged.
How does the unconscious nature of working rules cause difficulties to arise?
Working rules become familiar to investigators, so they aren’t always aware when they are using them - which can make to explain the rationale behind a decision to others.
What knowledge should an investigator’s decision making be based on?
The legal framework, characteristics of crime and national policies and procedures.
What is the sequence of reasoning from which good decisions can be reached?
- Acknowledge
- Identify, Isolate, Analyse
- Objective
- Information
- List
- Compare
- Plan
What are three factors that may adversely affect the quality of decision making?
Individual bias, verification bias and availability error.
What is individual bias, and give an example of this.
When decision making is affected by an individual’s perception of people/places/situations. An example would be making decisions based on the belief that a particular person is the offender, because of their criminal history.
What is verification bias, and give an example of this.
When thinking is channel towards focusing on making decisions that support a particular point of view or outcome. An example would be overlooking lines of enquiry because a witness has tentatively identified someone who may be the offender.
What is availability error, and give an example of this.
When an investigator makes decisions based on material that is vivid and dramatic, but perhaps not reflective of the scope of material available. An example would be focusing on a victims account and overlooking the collection of forensic evidence.
How can investigators avoid error in decision making?
Adopt a disciplined approach to decision making, actively challenge their own reasoning and have important decisions examined by a supervisor.
What is the Appreciation Technique, and what are the steps involved?
The Appreciation Technique is a cognitive tool that can be used to help take a disciplined approach to decision making. The steps are:
- Aim/Objective
- Factors
- Courses Open
- Plan
Define the Aim/Objective step of the Appreciation Technique.
An Aim/Objective is a short statement of intent, beginning with a verb, and should be brief and concise.
Define the Factors step of the Appreciation Technique, and give some examples of factors.
A factor is a statement of truth that has some bearing on the investigation. All factors pertaining to the investigation must be exhaustively examined (using the “so what” technique) so that all possible inferences that can affect the investigation are drawn. Examples could be the seriousness of the offence, available witnesses or material located.
Define the Courses Open step of the appreciation process.
Options that can be identified after having assessed the factors and their deductions, and are based on these. There may be many, which must be carefully examined and evaluated.
Define the Plan step of the appreciation process.
Select appropriate courses for attention and plan action to take. Review this in terms of effectiveness, proportionality, achieveability, SELF test etc.
What are the two forms of written appreciation, and the difference between them?
Full appreciation for high level or tactically difficult problems, and short for urgent or pressing problems requiring immediate attention.
When should a written appreciation be completed?
When there are several points to consider, and some may be overlooked if the process is not written down, and when a clear picture is desired to present a logical argument.
What are the four key areas that underpin investigation?
Core legislation, characteristics of crime, national policies and procedures, investigative techniques.
With an investigative mindset, an investigator knowingly…
Applies a principled approach to the collection and evaluation of material.
Uses logical and deductive reasoning techniques to progress the investigation.
Makes investigative decisions appropriate to the case at stages throughout the investigative process.
Evaluates and validates their decision making to others.
What are the two methods of criminal investigation, and how do they start?
Reactive, which responds to the discovery of a crime, and Proactive, which starts with information indicating that an individual or group is engaging in criminal activity.
What are the stages of criminal investigation?
Instigation, initial evaluation, investigative evaluation (further investigation), suspect management, evidential evaluation (further investigation), charge, file preparation, court.
What is Material?
Anything obtained in the course of an investigation that has some type of bearing on the offence, the suspect or the surrounding circumstances of the case.
Name the three different types of material, and define them.
Information, which reveals basic facts about the incident such as date, time and place. Intelligence, which is analysed together with other material to provide a broad idea of a pattern of offending or possible subjects. Evidence, which is used in court to show that a particular subject was involved in an incident.