This document provides a comprehensive summary of all the information provided by the University of Pretoria. This is document 1 of 2 that make up the study work for the first test in the first semester. The summary includes lecture notes, as well as tips given during class as to what will be in th...
The concept of Criminal Investigation Defined
○ Prevention of crime = primary function of all police organisations.
- Absolute prevention is impossible.
Note:
- When crimes are committed – police responsible for:
1. Collecting information during criminal investigation. Not all gathered information is
2. Identifying alleged perpetrators. evidence.
3. Ensuring the presence of alleged perpetrators during the
→ Information gathered is to be
court trial.
4. Submitting evidence to the court – reveal alleged assessed by an expert and
perpetrators’ unlawful actions. motivation to be admissible in
court.
○ Criminal investigation
- Multi-faceted, dynamic problem-solving endeavour.
- When arriving at the crime scene – officials must make quick decisions with limited information in a
dynamic environment.
- After criminal event is concluded – investigator is expected to:
1. Preserve the crime scene.
Conclude in forming reasonable grounds to identify &
2. Collect the information.
arrest the person / persons responsible.
3. Devise an investigative plan.
○ Def: Criminal investigation is a systematic search for the truth aimed at the positive solution of a crime.
- 2 sources of information may be available in searching for the truth:
Objective Information Subjective Information
→ Indirect source of information. → Direct source of information.
→ Factual proof / physical information in → Derived from real sensory experiences or
criminal investigation. knowledge of people, about a relevant crime
→ The literal objects. situation.
→ Weapons, bullets & bullet casings, hair, fibres, → Will prove the point in fact without
fingerprints, shoe prints, tyre marks, tool interpretation of circumstances.
impressions, bite marks, bodily fluids. → Any information that can show the court
→ Mute information / circumstantial information something occurred without need for the
/ indirect information – requires examination court to make inferences / assumptions.
and analysis by forensic experts. → Based on personal experiences.
→ Experts can demonstrate spatial relationships → Examples:
between objects, suspects, victims, timelines, 1. Eyewitness that saw it.
and criminal events. 2. Victim of crime / complaints.
→ Does not prove the offence – may contribute 3. Statement of confession from the
to a body of evidence to prove guilt beyond accused admitting to the crime / an
reasonable doubt accomplice – suspects.
→ 2 main forms: 4. People involved in the crime / aware of
1. Information transferred from crime scene the crime – but not present during the
or victim – to – perpetrator. commission of the crime.
2. Information transferred from perpetrator – 5. Informers who have information about the
to – crime scene or victim crime.
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