O'Hara's Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation

Charles and Gregory O’Hara’s Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation has served as the “Bible” of criminal investigation for many years. The author of this new edition has prepared this text for a new generation of criminal investigators in such a way that they will learn what is meant by a complete investigation and acquaint themselves with the proofs of the most important crimes. In addition, they will become familiar with the employment of technical methods...
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Charles and Gregory O’Hara’s Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation has served as the “Bible” of criminal investigation for many years. The author of this new edition has prepared this text for a new generation of criminal investigators in such a way that they will learn what is meant by a complete investigation and acquaint themselves with the proofs of the most important crimes. In addition, they will become familiar with the employment of technical methods and services that are available. The tools of the investigator are referred to as the three “I’s,” namely, “Information,” “Interrogation,” and “Instru-mentation.” In view of this factor, the technological advancements in forensic science, practices of criminalistics, computerization, electronic databases, and the Internet are presented, including the time honored methods of collecting information that are still effective and utilized. Among the changes in this new edition include crime analysis, criminal profiling, theories of investigation, ethics of investigation, the “CSI” effect, cold case investigation, digital photography, computer crime and digital crime scenes, and the Internet as an investigative tool. The book presents an overview of criminal investigation, the investigative notebook and report, crime scene procedures and physical evidence, obtaining information through surveillance and informants, selected property offenses, violent crimes, drugs and gangs, and the investigator in court. The “Additional Reading” sections, at the end of each chapter and the glossary of useful criminal investigation terms have been updated. The presentation of material in this book is directed to the beginning student of investigation, but experienced investigators and supervisors will find this text an excellent resource.