CJE 3611 - Criminal Investigations Theory and Practice

College of Public Safety Administration

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2024 (630)

Requisites

Admission to Public Safety Administration (Bachelor of Applied Science) (PSA-BAS)

Course Description

This course explores and analyzes investigative facets of law enforcement through the examination of various investigative strategies, techniques, tools, and technology used in the criminal investigation process. Critical thinking skills are utilized to enable the student to evaluate an effective criminal investigation while preserving the constitutional rights of the individual and the community.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will examine the historical evolution of the criminal investigative process and the use of forensic science in that process by:
    1. discussing the evolution of investigative initiatives.
    2. evaluating the historical initiatives in terms of current investigation practices.
    3. describing the development of forensic science.
    4. debating the development of scientific techniques in terms of investigative method and outcome.
  2. The student will analyze the application of legal requirements to the conduct and prosecution of a criminal investigation by:
    1. discussing court decisions affecting the investigative process.
    2. describing the role of prosecutors in the criminal justice process.
    3. comparing the role of the prosecution and judicial processes in law enforcement investigations.
    4. discussing the role and documentation of evidence in criminal investigations.
    5. evaluating ethical decision-making throughout criminal cases up to and including conviction.
  3. The student will analyze investigative strategies and evaluate the effectiveness of each strategy by:
    1. comparing and contrasting the differences between reactive and proactive policing.
    2. discussing overt and covert investigative efforts.
    3. researching the criminal investigations units' strategies and evaluating their effectiveness.
    4. explaining the constitutional guidelines for interview techniques, confessions, and eyewitness identification
  4. The student will demonstrate evidentiary requirements for conviction by:
    1. illustrating constitutional requirements for the procurement of evidence.
    2. exploring the value of behavioral evidence in criminal investigations.
    3. calculating the value of digital evidence in criminal investigations.
    4. researching criminal profiling and geographic profiling.
    5. illustrating how to lawfully obtain information from social media, public video, information networks and other sources.
  5. The student will evaluate contemporary issues confronting investigative personnel by:
    1. critiquing the impact and limitations of intelligence-led policing.
    2. predicting the effect of current events on investigative effectiveness.
    3. assessing current investigative initiatives.
    4. determining the technology and training needs to support complex investigations.

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

3 Year Review 2008.
C&I Approval: 07/21/2023, BOT Approval: 09/19/2023, Effective Term: Spring 2024 (630)

Related Programs

  1. Public Safety Administration (PSA-BAS) (655) (Active)