CJE 2605 - Investigative Trends

College of Public Safety Administration

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2018 (550)

Course Description

This course will provide the student with the opportunity to explore in depth, specific crime typologies, national crime trends, and international events as well as view fundamental investigative techniques. In addition, the student will examine the rigorous methods, issues, and trends of criminal investigation.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will explain the evolution and legal aspects of criminal investigation and criminalistics by:
    1. describing the historical events of criminal justice.
    2. discussing the origin of criminal investigation and the connection to social, political, and economic changes.
    3. indicating the value of scientific methods found in criminalistics to assist in the identification of suspects, evidence, and information collection.
  2. The student will explain the investigative process by:
    1. describing the role, skills, and qualities of the investigator.
    2. identifying the major steps in a crime investigation from a preliminary investigation through the follow-up investigation.
    3. describing the issues involved in recognizing and combating crime.
    4. organizing the processing of physical evidence.
    5. interpreting the difference between interview and interrogation and the correlating processes.
    6. outlining the documentation necessary to capture and disseminate the information.
    7. describing the analytical and investigative tools available to assist in the investigation.
    8. describing crime scene trends and issues including technologies, laboratories, and training.
  3. The student will analyze investigating crimes against persons by:
    1. describing the legal issues, motivational models for classification of homicides.
    2. Interpreting sex offenses, sex-related investigation, and evidence collection.
    3. describing the crimes against children including assaults, burns, molestation, pornography, abduction, and the role of the investigator in the cases.
    4. indicating robbery trends and elements from the offense, to the victim, to the offender.
  4. The student will analyze the investigation of crimes against property by:
    1. discussing the investigative considerations at a burglary scene and the interrelated issues.
    2. identifying white-collar crimes including larceny, identity theft, counterfeiting, frauds and scams, and money laundering.
    3. identifying vehicle thefts, methods of operation, and investigative tools and techniques.
    4. explaining typologies and forensics of computer related crime.
    5. describing the issues, trends, and scientific methods employed in the investigation of arson and explosives.
  5. The student will analyze the investigation of drugs and terrorism by:
    1. describing trends in drug schedules, drugs of abuse, drug terminology, clandestine laboratories, conspiracy, and gangs, and the use of undercover officers and confidential informants in investigation.
    2. classifying international and domestic criminal organizations and the financing of organizations.
  6. The student will explain the trial process in relation to investigative trends by:
    1. describing the trial preparation including materials, evidence collection documentation, and burden of proof.
    2. identifying the role of investigator as a witness in the trial criminal justice process.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 11/28/06, BOT 1/22/07, Effective 20062(0375). (submitted as CCJ2226; State assigned new prefix and number.) Flex Access 20062. 3-Year Review 2010: Acceptable As Is. C&I Approval: 11/28/2006, BOT Approval: 01/22/2007, Effective Term: Spring 2007 (375).
C&I Approval: 02/09/2018, BOT Approval: 04/17/2018, Effective Term: Fall 2018 (550)

Related Programs

  1. Criminal Justice Operations PCS (CRIMHS-AR) (450) (Active)
  2. Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDLE) Law Enforcement Officer (to CJPSS-AS) (LEIC-AR) (635) (Active)
  3. Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDLE) Law Enforcement Officer (to PSA-BAS) (LE2IC-AR) (635) (Active)
  4. Law Enforcement Officer Career Certificate/Academy (LAWSW-AR) (620) (Active)
  5. Public Safety (CJPSS-AS) (645) (Active)
  6. Public Safety Administration (PSA-TR) (670) (Active)