HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LAWENFORCEMENTAND CORRECTIONS

HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS

CONTENTS

PREFACE*

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CALL FOR ACTION

THE CHANGING NATURE OF HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS

STRENGTHENING THE INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTION

PROMOTING EFFECTIVE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS CONFERENCE

REPORT CONTENTS

HOMICIDES AND CLEARANCE RATES

OVERVIEW OF HOMICIDE RATES AND CLEARANCE RATES

Homicide Rates 1961–2005

Clearance Rates 196 1–2005

CHANGING TRENDS IN THE NATURE OF HOMICIDES

Variables Affecting Law Enforcement’s Investigation of Homicide Cases

Consequences of Unsolved Homicides

CONSIDERATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

CONCLUSION

MANAGING HOMICIDE UNITSFOR EFFECTIVENESS

ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Responsibilities of the Homicide Unit

Centralization versus Decentralization

VARIABLES AFFECTING HOMICIDE CLEARANCE RATES

Initial Response

Actions of the Detectives

Other Police Actions

Personnel Policies

The Role of Crime Analysis

CONSIDERATIONS

EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION

DEFINITIONS

THE RESEARCH

Estimator Variables

System Variables

Criminal Justice Initiatives to Improve Eyewitness Identification

CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES

New Jersey

Hennepin County

Illinois

Wisconsin

North Carolina

Other Agencies

Agency Considerations for Eyewitness Identification

Agency Considerations

CONCLUSION

VIDEOTAPED INTERROGATIONS

IN PRACTICE: THE VIDEOTAPE RECORDING OF INTERROGATIONS

What Do We Know about Current Videotaping Practices?

Why Are Departments Videotaping?

VIDEOTAPED INTERROGATION PROCEDURES

What Is Being Videotaped?

Who Is Being Videotaped?

BENEFITS OF VIDEOTAPING INTERROGATIONS

Transparency

Focus

Courtroom Benefits

Direct Observation

Review and Training

CONCERNS ABOUT VIDEOTAPING INTERROGATIONS

Erosion of Public Trust

Decreased Cooperation

Cost

Technology Complexity and Dependence

So, Should Departments Videotape?

Consent

AGENCY CONSIDERATIONS FOR VIDEOTAPING INTERROGATIONS

Necessity

Current Regulations

The Decision

Policy

Logistics

Training Implications

Departmental Mindset

CONCLUSION

DNA, CRIME LABS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA)

Background

DNA’s Contributions

DNA in Demand: Cases and Backlogs

DNA EVIDENCEIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Staffing and Credentials

Oversight

Evidence Management and Prioritization

DNA in the Courtroom: “The CSI Effect”

Funding

Other Resources: Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)

CONSIDERATIONS FOR DNA AND FORENSIC LABS

CONCLUSION

COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS

COLD CASE UNITS

Who Works on Cold Cases?

Innovative Approaches

CASE MANAGEMENT

Prioritizing Cold Cases

Evidence

Opening a Case

Engaging the Public

Other Resources

CONSIDERATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

CONCLUSION

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

ABOUT THE COPS OFFICE

ABOUT PERF

APPENDIX A.

APPENDIX B.

VIOLENT CRIMINAL APPREHENSION PROGRAM

PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS (PSN)

VIOLENT CRIME IMPACT TEAM (VCIT)

APPENDIX C.

ATTORNEY GENERAL GUIDELINESFOR PREPARING AND CONDUCTINGPHOTO AND LIVE LINEUPIDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES

Preamble

APPENDIX D.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department InteractiveDirectives Guide

I. PURPOSE

II. POLICY

III. DEFINITIONS

IV. PROCEDURE

A. Sequential Photographic Lineup

B. Simultaneous Photographic Lineup

C. Conducting a Photographic Lineup

D. Body Lineups

V. REFERENCES

APPENDIX E.

USING THE VIDEO INTERVIEW ROOM

THE DECISION TO VIDEO RECORD A STATEMENT

THE INTERVIEW ON VIDEO

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

USING THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN COURT

PLASMA SCREENS

APPENDIX F.

APPENDIX G.

INDEX