MCCCD Program Description

Criminal Investigations Certification

Course: LET225

First Term: 2020 Fall

Lecture 6.0 Credit(s) 6.0 Period(s) 6.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: Police Detective Training. Emphasis on investigations, search and seizure, legal aspects of interview and interrogation, report writing, case management, and field problem scenarios.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Identify the responsibilities of the police detective at the crime scene. (I) 2. Discuss ethical dilemmas in investigations. (I) 3. Describe procedures for investigating property crimes and crimes against persons, including death investigations. (I) 4. Demonstrate proper crime scene management. (I) 5. Explain procedures for investigating crimes involving questioned documents. (I) 6. Explain the application of various investigative resources and technology to investigations. (I) 7. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate evidence procedures; chain of custody, testing, and/or analysis. (I) 8. Explain the method of collecting and preserving technological evidence from devices. (I) 9. Describe the types of digital hardware and software and other technologies that may be found or used during an investigation. (I) 10. Discuss the legal aspects of seizing digital evidence. (I) 11. Discuss the legal aspects as it relates to search and seizure. (II) 12. Explain procedures for obtaining a search warrant. (II) 13. Explain procedures for the drafting and execution of search warrants. (II) 14. Demonstrate the ability to complete appropriate documentation; search warrant to submittal paperwork. (II) 15. Describe various interview techniques. (III) 16. Discuss the legal obligations of the interrogator. (III) 17. Explain the legal issues and strategies for interviewing minors. (III) 18. Compose clear and concise crime reports. (IV) 19. Explain the purpose of a Records Management System (RMS). (V) 20. Explain effective case management. (V) 21. Discuss the submission process and handling of furthers and turndowns. (V) 22. Review a crime scene scenario. (VI) 23. Demonstrate the ability to present the case in court, secure evidence, execute a search warrant, draw a crime scene diagram, complete supplemental paperwork, and attach laboratory analysis. (VI) 24. Discuss the investigator`s role in case trial proceedings. (VI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Investigations A. Crime scene responsibilities 1. The significance of physical evidence 2. Three major elements of a crime scene search 3. Factors influencing effectiveness of search process 4. General stages of a crime scene search 5. Command posts 6. Dealing with unauthorized persons B. Property crimes 1. Identification of property crimes 2. Definitions 3. Procedures for handling property crimes 4. Special crimes 5. Special resources C. Crimes against persons 1. Sex crimes investigation 2. Sexual assault profiles 3. Initial investigation 4. Evidence 5. Post-incident follow-up 6. Sexual offender notification law 7. Other violent crimes D. Death investigation 1. Causes and manners of death 2. Three bridges of death investigation 3. Procedures for handling death investigations 4. Reports E. Questioned documents 1. Evidence submission 2. Paper 3. Charred documents 4. Printing methods 5. Erasures, alterations, and obliterations 6. Age of document F. Technology and crime 1. Types of crime 2. Proper collection and preservation G. Ethical dilemmas 1. Entrapment 2. Coercion 3. Chain of custody H. Investigative resources 1. Criminal investigation research unit 2. Laboratory services 3. Fingerprint identification resources 4. Ballistic resources 5. Technology resources 6. Social media II. Search and seizure A. Categories of searches B. Probable cause C. Reasonable suspicion D. Burden of proof E. Searches falling outside the scope of the Fourth Amendment F. Drafting and execution of search warrants III. Legal aspects of interview and interrogation A. Interview techniques B. Confessions and interrogations 1. Steps of an interrogation 2. Voluntaries 3. Miranda 4. Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel 5. Miscellaneous issues C. Interviewing vulnerable populations 1. Types of victims 2. Physical abuse 3. Child witnesses 4. Forensic interview 5. Multidisciplinary protocol IV. Report writing A. Pre-report preparation B. Composing the body of the report C. Assembling the case V. Records Management Systems (RMS) A. Departmental report control B. Case assignment C. Open investigations D. Supervisor responsibilities E. Investigative follow-up F. Case clearances G. Report status H. Victim`s rights I. Submission for complaint J. County/city turndowns K. County/city furthers VI. Field problems - crime scene scenarios A. Case presentation B. Crime scene evidence C. Search warrant D. Crime scene diagram E. Supplemental paperwork F. Laboratory analysis attachments G. Courtroom demeanor

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: June 23, 2020

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.