Overview

Proper documentation of an incident provides a critical foundation for subsequent investigative activities, as well as potential court proceedings. In this activity, you describe the elements of an effective incident report and investigation.

Scenario

Note: Activities and assignments in this course are predicated upon a homicide scenario that is introduced in this activity.

Imagine that you are a newly promoted detective en route to your first crime scene, a suspected homicide, and you want to be prepared for what you may encounter. While walking to the parking lot, you remember how your Field Training Officer (FTO) would emphasize the importance of properly documenting the incident, securing the crime scene, and protecting the evidence from contamination. As you drive to the scene, you begin to mentally review all of the elements that go into the completion of an incident report and a thorough investigation.

Instructions

Consider the scenario above and briefly describe 5 critical elements of an effective criminal investigation.

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