The Importance Of Homicide Investigation

1030 Words5 Pages

Introduction
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word homicide can be defined as “the taking of a person’s life by another human being”. This paper seeks to identify four important actions that should be taken by an investigating officer at a homicide crime scene, the importance of taking those actions and the consequences of not taking the proper course of action.

1. The Preliminary Investigation
First and foremost, the job of an investigator is to focus on the specific aspects of evidence needed to establish whether or not a crime has been committed. Upon his arrival, his first responsibility is to debrief the First Responders to verify the condition of the victim and then assures that the primary crime scene is uninterrupted. …show more content…

The search of the crime scene and its capacity is considered the most significant stage of the investigation. The Investigator should keep in mind that physical evidence is the most credible kind of evidence and according to the Locard Exchange Principle “every contact leaves a trace”. It is because of this reason that the investigator’s obligation is to see to it that the crime scene is instantaneously conserved. Precaution must be taken so that the people within the vicinity of the crime scene do not contaminate the scene by leaving footprints or fingerprints or by disturbing the crime scene. Prior to the walk-through, the investigator must stop and scrutinize the area as a whole, making notes of everything possible before going into the actual crime scene to conduct a more detailed assessment. The purpose of this procedure is to …show more content…

This is very important especially interviewing those persons who are living in close proximity to where the crime has been committed. For example, the investigator should begin questioning persons who are living next door to the victim on what they have seen or heard. After he has gathered enough information from eyewitnesses he can then move on to questioning the suspect who in this case is the roommate. Finally, the investigator before he decides to interrogate the suspect who is found at the crime scene he must make sure that the requirements under the Miranda Law have been observed. The Investigator must see to it that the suspect has been informed of his right and that he has the right to remain silent and that he has the right to seek the service of his own Attorney. If he is impecunious, the suspect should be advised that the state can provide him with his own counsel. If these warnings are not read to the suspect as soon as he is taken into custody, any statements he makes after the arrest many be excluded from the