The death investigation allows law enforcement workers to find answers to many of the questions posed by the crime that has taken place. However, examining the victim’s body alone does not provide all the necessary evidence. Fortunately, criminologists have developed many other techniques and procedures besides death investigations to improve investigative results to make them more precise. This paper will review and discuss three types of criminal investigations that can complement forensic findings.
Crime Scene Investigation
The history of criminology shows that sometimes death investigations provide few answers but many conjectures. In my opinion, law enforcement officers should resort to investigating the crime scene in such cases. Experts note that it is the process by which investigators examine single or multiple areas of wrongdoing to find trace materials, impression evidence, illicit drug traces, and signs of attempts to conceal the crime (Tilstone et al., 2019). Combined with the results of forensic evaluations, they provide experts with sufficient evidence to identify the culprit accurately.
Neighborhood Investigation
A neighborhood investigation is another procedure that can provide evidence and new facts about a case. From my perspective, it is an extended version of the crime scene investigation. According to professionals, it is a criminological technique that “…involves interviewing and searching the properties, including vehicles, of all persons in the targeted area, and identifying any persons…” who may potentially be part of a crime (Neighborhood investigation form instructions, n.d., para. 1). Often people living around are well aware of the local social connections, and their opinions can lead to the evidence needed.
Digital Footprint Investigation
The more digital technologies develop and become more complex, the deeper they are integrated into personal lives. Digital and online data have become an important source of criminological data that law enforcement workers should consider when conducting investigations. Digital footprints sometimes provide more objective evidence than traditional investigative procedures, as each event is recorded and saved, including exact date and location (Digital footprints and forensic investigations, n.d.). I believe the digital footprint investigator may become a separate forensic specialty in the future.
References
Digital footprints and forensic investigations. (n.d.). FTI Consulting.
Neighborhood investigation form instructions. (n.d.). The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Tilstone, W. J., Hastrup, M. L., & Hald, C. (2019). Fisher techniques of crime scene investigation: First international edition. CRC Press.