Course Syllabus

CJ225 Criminal Investigation (Online)

Arcadia University
Criminal Justice
Dr. Denise Leifker

Office: Easton Hall 333

Phone: (530) 635-2195

E-mail: leifkerd@arcadia.edu

Welcome!
Welcome to your Arcadia University course, CJ225 Criminal Investigation.
This course covers the legal, scientific, behavioral and investigative aspects for criminal investigati
Topics include investigative theory and processes, collection and preservation of evidence, sources
information, interview and interrogation, uses of physical evidence and forensic science, specific type
criminal investigations including death, homicide, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, arson, explosi
computer and white collar investigations, and case and trial preparation. At the conclusion of this cou
students will be able to:

Understand the history and evolution of criminal investigations, the legal aspects of investigations,
and the actors and situations present at crime scenes.
Evaluate the different ways evidence is collected and some of the technological advances made in
evidence collection and processing.
Assess various ways of interviewing and interrogating persons involved with criminal investigation
Assess the basics of note taking and report writing
Understand the importance of follow-up investigations.
Evaluate the different capabilities of crime laboratories.
Appraise the complexities of homicide investigations.
Categorize the different types of child abuse.
Examine the complexities of sexual assault and rape cases.
Assess the differing elements of robbery, burglary, theft and fraud cases.
Evaluate the extent of linkages between computers and crime.
Categorize different types of agricultural and environmental crimes.
Study the intricacies of arson and explosive crimes.
Categorize the different types of illicit drugs available in society.
 Understand the legality issues surrounding drugs and drug investigations.

Appraise the impact of terrorism on U.S. ground and investigative necessities.

Required Materials
Required Text: Swanson, Charles R., Chamelin, Neil C., Territo, Leonard, Taylor, Robert W. 2008. Crim
Investigation (10th edition) McGraw-Hill.

In addition, you will use Arcadia's online databases and other web resources.

Since this course is being delivered online, your computer system will need to meet specific hardware and
software requirements (See the Policies Section on Blackboard). For this course, you will need to have acc
to Microsoft Office (or Open Office).

1 Headset w/ microphone

Evaluation
A 93% to 100%
A- 90% to 92%
B+ 87% to 89%
B 83% to 86%
B- 80% to 82%
C+ 77% to 79%
C 73% to 76%
C- 70% to 72%
D+ 67% to 69%
D 63% to 66%
D- 60% to 62%
F Failure to complete required work

Unit 1 (Assignments 1-3) 40 points

Unit 2 (Assignments 1-3) 45 points
Unit 3 (Assignments 1-3) 50 points
 Unit 4 (Assignments 1 (term paper)-2) 85 points
Unit 5 (Assignments 1-3) 50 points
Unit 6 (Assignments 1-3) 50 points
Unit 7 (Assignment 1 and Final Exam ) 146 points
Total Points 466 points

Introduction
This course is being presented in an online fashion; It is important that you login on a regular basis (daily
possible) and work on a consistent basis to complete your requirements. It is a 7 week course, making the
weekly requirements quite high, so be sure to stay on top of your assignments. Since we are not meeting
face-to-face, it will be imperative that you participate in the discussion forums. Also, the Cyber Cafe is
available for you to develop community outside of the course content.

You will need to be self-motivated and try to stay as organized as possible; developing a schedule would b
good idea. I also suggest that you login in the beginning of the week and copy all assignments to a Word
document. This will allow you to construct a quality answer, spell check, grammar check, and copy and pa
into the forum.

You are required to respond to a minimum of two other student postings for forums that require interaction
with your peers. I will be looking at the way you analyze the postings and the extent of the conversation.
Please use this opportunity to share your own experiences and feelings, but remember to support your
assertions with current research findings or factual information.

"Studies report that peer learning promotes greater conceptual and procedural gains for students,
accommodates a broad range of learning styles, results in greater enjoyment of the learning task, and
encourages a stronger persistence in learning" (Johnson & Johnson, 1999).

Your discussion board postings will be evaluated based upon their substantive nature and how efficiently i
addresses the question at hand. Simple responses such as "I agree" are of no value and will not be counted
an acceptable posting. Please try to be brief but concise and to the point.

Discussion Etiquette

In this course, I welcome the creation of a dialogue that is open, thoughtful, and founded in verified
information. At times, some of you will not agree on the positions that are taken in the forum. This diversi
is welcomed. However, each student must exercise respect for the thoughts and comments that are posted
their peers. If any posted comments are inappropriate or of an offensive nature, they will be removed from
forum and the issue will be addressed with the author of the content. Please adhere to the following
 guidelines:

Never post, transmit, promote, or distribute content that is known to be illegal.

Never post harassing, threatening, or embarrassing comments.

If you disagree with someone, respond to the subject, not the person.

Never post content that is harmful, abusive, racially, ethnically, or religiously offensive, vulgar or
otherwise potentially offensive.

Academic Integrity

Please see the Policies Section on Blackboard.

Special Needs

Please see the Policies Section on Blackboard.

Weekly Schedule
Objectives for Unit 1

Explain the evolution of criminal investigation.

Highlight the milestones of criminalistics.
Explain the historical evolution of the laws of search and seizure.
Outline the requirements for an arrest warrant, and search incident to arrest.
Recognize exigent circumstances for searching.
Describe the exclusionary rule and the fruits of the poisonous treat doctrine.
Understand the role of an investigator.
Discuss the major events in a criminal investigation.
Identify threats to safety and major considerations in a crime scene.

Required Reading:

Text Chapter 1- "The Evolution of Criminal Investigation and Criminalistics"

Text Chapter 2- "Legal Aspects of Investigation"

Text Chapter 3- "Investigators, The Investigative Process, and the Crime Scene"

Assignment 1: Please submit a short biography of yourself and include: name, age, student status, major,
interests in criminal justice and interests outside of class.
Assignment 2: Research a local (city, county or township) and state police agency. Do they have an
investigative unit (if not, find one that does)? Is there more than one unit that specializes in particular crim
(i.e. sex offenders, homicides, etc.)? List them and then indicate how officers get assigned to these units?

Assignment 3: Watch an episode of CSI (any of the series). Identify three things that appear to be the sam
described in your book and three things that are different. Then, rate the show and explain your rating.

Objectives for Unit 2

Outline procedure for locating and handling various types of evidence.

Describe techniques for identifying questioned documents.
Understand the differences and similarities between interviews and interrogations.
Outline the keys steps in interviews and interrogations.
Identify the importance of documentation in interviews and interrogations.
Understand the importance of field notes.
Understand the format for basic incident reports.

Required Reading

Text Chapter 4- Physical Evidence

Text Chapter 5- Interviewing and Interrogation

Text Chapter 6- Field Notes and Reporting

Assignment 1: Describe the procedures necessary as an investigator arriving on the scene of a single
homicide. Describe what you would do upon arrival through the investigation and the process of leaving.
You can do this in list format, but make sure to have a pretty exhaustive list from start to finish.

Assignment 2: Post three examples of interview questions and three examples of interrogation questions o
the discussion board. Also, give me a brief summary of how the two processes are different. Make sure to
comment on your peers about whether you think their questions are appropriate or if they are categorized
wrong.

Assignment 3: Do the internet activity described on page 201. It is an exercise about NIBRS data- what it
and whether it is collected locally.
Objectives for Unit 3

Determine whether a follow up investigation is warranted.

Discuss the importance of databases in follow up.
Describe the use of photo and live lineups.
 Explain the relationship and importance of informants.
Understand the importance of crime lab capabilities.
Discuss some of the problems with police crime laboratories.
Identify responsibilities when responding to homicides and/or assaults.
Understand the medical/legal dynamic, including the autopsy.
Recognize differences between homicides and suicides with regard to crime scenes.

Required Reading

Text Chapter 7- The Follow-Up Investigation and Investigative Resources

Text Chapter 8- The Crime Laboratory

Text Chapter 9- Injury and Death Investigations

Assignment 1: Create a crime bulletin like the example provided on page 225. Make sure to address all of
topics they did and add anything unique you can think to add. Do this is any kind of format- I would love
you could add a picture, etc.

Assignment 2: Discussion Board- Visit the FBIs laboratory services website and pick one topic that inter
you. http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/labhome.htm. Post a bit of information about it on the discussion board an
comment on two of your peers responses.

Assignment 3: Discussion Board- Search the internet and find another college program that evaluates cold
cases besides the one described on page 312. Post your finding to the discussion board. Then, briefly descr
the program and give your opinion. Respond to the findings of two of your peers.

Objectives for Unit 4

Discuss interview and investigative techniques for sexual assault cases.

Outline the types of physical evidence collected in rape and sexual assault cases.
Explain some of the reasons women choose not to report rape or falsely report rape.
Recognize different types of injuries and characteristics of child abuse.
Outline the different types and displays of child pornography.
Understand the different factors associated with sudden infant death syndrome.
Describe characteristics associated with those likely to be involved in school crime.
Identify common elements of robbery.
Define examples of robbery prevention.

Required Reading
Text Chapter 10- Sex-Related Offenses

Text Chapter 11- Crimes Against Children

Text Chapter 12- Robbery

Assignment 1: Term Paper- Choose a topic that focuses on an investigative tool such as the polygraph,
forensic dentistry, forensic entomology, investigation of SIDS cases, DNA, crime scene photography, cred
card fraud, etc. The paper should focus on the history and development of the concept/tool in addition to th
mechanics and application. A brief case study may also be included, but will not dominate the content of t
paper. Each paper will use a minimum of three scholarly sources and be no less than 4 pages in length (do
spaced, 12 point font). I have attached a grading rubric that shows you the content I require and analyze in
grading.

Assignment 2: DB- Choose a topic from the three chapters that you read for this week that interests you.
Describe why it sparked your interest and what you learned about it.
Objectives for Unit 5

Identify common elements of burglary.

Define examples of burglary prevention.
Recognize burglary tools.
Identify common elements of larceny/theft and white collar crime.
Become familiar with different types of fraud.
Identify common elements of vehicle thefts and related offenses.

Required Reading

Text Chapter 13- Burglary

Text Chapter 14- Larceny/Theft and White-Collar Crime

Text Chapter 15- Vehicle Thefts and Related Offenses

Assignment 1: Search the internet and find two innovative ways that police departments are attacking
burglary problems. Describe the programs and indicate what you like and dislike about them. This assignm
should be no less than 250 words.

Assignment 2: Discussion Board- Write a discussion board about a person you know that has had their
identity stolen. If you do not know of anyone, find an example on the internet. Then, provide three
suggestions for ways to avoid identify theft. Remember to comment on the ideas of two of your classmates

Assignment 3: Describe a chop-shop operation. I would like you to use at least one outside source besides
textbook to support you answer. This assignment should be no less than 200 words in length.
Objectives for Unit 6

Identify the types of crimes that involve computers.

Outline a profile of computer criminals.
Explain techniques for the investigation of computer crime.
Identify types of agricultural and environmental crimes.
Summarize ways to prevent rural and agricultural crimes.
Discuss the steps in investigating arsons.
Identify different types of explosives.

Required Reading:

Text Chapter 16- Computer Crime

Text Chapter 17- Agricultural, Wildlife, and Environmental Crimes

Text Chapter 18- Arson and Explosives Investigations

Assignment 1: Find an academic journal article that researches computer crime. I want you to provide a b
summary of the article, a short description of the research methods used, a summary of the findings, and a
summary of the shortcomings. Then indicate what this adds to what you learned in the textbook about
computer crime. This assignment should be no less than 250 words.

Assignment 2: Discussion Board- Post to the discussion board an example of a sheriffs office of townshi
department within the area that has an agriculture or rural type of crime unit. What services do they
provide? Comment on what two of your classmates find.

Assignment 3: Identify who the most common individuals are involved in arsons. Indicated why you thin
this is and what we can do to lessen their involvement. Use one outside source to support your answer.

Objectives for Unit 7

Identify the various types of illicit drugs available in society.

Outline techniques used in investigating drugs and narcotics.
Understand the managing of drug informants.
Describe the process of conducting raids on clandestine labs.
Become familiar with the different terrorist groups that threaten the U.S. and its allies.
Describe some of the steps every police agency and/or officer can take to prevent terrorism in t
U.S.
 Discuss the role of an investigator as a witness.

Required Reading:

Text Chapter 19- Recognition, Control, and Investigation of Drug Abuse

Text Chapter 20- Terrorism

Text Chapter 21- The Trial Process and the Investigator as a Witness

Assignment 1: Discussion Board- Identify a drug of your choice and argue for either legalization,
decriminalization, or to leave things as they currently are. Remember to respond to two of your peers.

Final Exam: Your final exam will be available on Monday, August 23rd and will be available until Friday,
August 27th at 6 p.m. You will have 2 hours to complete the 80 question exam. Once you log in, you on
have one attempt to complete it, so be prepared. No exceptions. You may use your book, but use your tim
wisely.