Criminal Investigation: Basic Perspectives (9th Edition)

The ninth edition ofCriminal Investigation: Basic Perspectiveshas been reorganized to make it more adaptable for a semester-length college course. The previous edition of this text contained 27 chapters. In this edition, the material has been combined and condensed into a 17 chapter format. The first chapter is now Ethical Awareness. This is especially appropriate due to the recent disclosure of unethical conduct in two of the largest police agencies in the country. This unethical conduct effects all investigators, regardless of jurisdiction. Such egregious conduct places doubts in a juror's mind regarding the credibility of the investigators in the courtroom and even empowers juries to engage in jury nullification. We believe that a frank and honest discussion of unethical conduct is necessary in order to acknowledge that this behavior exists and to be able to take corrective and preventive action. Therefore, we added one entirely new chapter as well as additional segments to eight existing chapters: Media Relations (Chapter 2, "The Crime Scene") Offender Registration (Chapter 5, "Basic Investigative Leads and Informants") DNA Fingerprinting (Chapter 7,,"Laboratory and Technical Services") Mass and Serial Murder (Chapter 10, "Physical Assaults") Personality Profile: Serial Rapist (Chapter 11, "Sexual Assaults") Vice and Gambling (Chapter 15, "A Trio of Crimes Without Victims, Dangerous Dugs, Vice and Gambling, and Organized Crime") Computer Crime and Hit and Run (Chapter 16, "For Other Authorities") The Investigator as a Witness (New Chapter 17) Two new case studies, designed to enhance the learning process, have been added to this edition. The case study method of instruction facilitates learning by linking case content to textbook topics and by encouraging the exchange of opinions and viewpoints among students during discussion sessions. The case studies in this book are designed to contribute to this type of learning process. Each case provides factual information that is likely to promote analysis and discussion and thus aid in developing the student's ability to analyze, evaluate, and reason. The topic of discussion is focused on the facts of each case study, but only the range of student opinions and ideas limits the scope of the discussion. Some cases are presented in straight narrative style, while others are written in dialogue form as the best means of joining the personalities and the situations of a case study. Each case presents a real-life situation or episode experienced some time in the past. There has been no "doctoring" to develop points, theories, or problems. However, names, dates, and locations have been altered in some instances to avoid embarrassing any persons or their families. A note of thanks to the reviewers of the last edition: William E. Kelly, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; Richard Natoli, Massasoit Community College, Rockton, MA; and Len Larson, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX. Their insights and suggestions have made this current edition a better book. A special note of thanks to Sue Lushbaugh. Without her computer expertise and patience this edition would not have been possible.Charles A. Lushbaugh is the author of 'Criminal Investigation: Basic Perspectives (9th Edition)', published 2002 under ISBN 9780130942081 and ISBN 0130942081.