Course Objectives:
Law enforcement officers, when assigned to investigate violent crime incidents are placed in a position of responsibility that quite frankly, failure is not an accepted option. Within the rank and file of the agency, to society at large, persons place demands upon officers to solve crimes as quickly as possible. Fair or unfair as it may be, it is a reality that each officer senses and thus compels him or her to produce results. However, as with any discipline, when human resources are rushed, regardless of the endeavor, mistakes are made. Things are overlooked. To reiterate, when a person is physically assaulted, or worst human life itself is taken through violence failure is not an option. People who victimize other must be held accountable for crimes committed and the criminal justice system is the government arm that must provide the resources necessary to bring justice to bear.
Course Overview:
In response to the realities set forth in the Statement of Fact, what can or should be done to ensure case resolution. Moreover, what if anything can be done to eliminate, or at the very least mitigate the potential for error. The answer is to provide for and establish the framework of a multifaceted investigative approach. From the initial response through litigation, each facet will be covered in this course of instruction so that an all-encompassing and most intrusive investigative approach can be carried out. To that end participants will be taking part in work groups to identify and establish investigative resources that are foundational to the investigative process. After establishing the foundation of the investigative framework, the course will segue to the application of behavioral analysis of violent crime as part of the investigative process.
Incidents of violence are replete with behavior, inclusive of aberrant sexual behavior, between the victims and offenders. Understanding those demonstrated behaviors by officers tasked with investigating such incidents are of great value in the effort to solve such incidents. Therefore, through an interactive classroom setting, participants will learn the value of applying behavioral science with forensic science in order to enhance their understanding of why the violence occurred and thus greatly increase the solvability rate of such incidents. To accomplish this, participants will be exposed to a myriad of topics with an emphasis on understanding the motivating factors of offenders. Additionally, utilizing actual cases, participants will be instructed on how to conduct crime scene assessments and then apply that knowledge to violent crime incidents.
The 5-day course of instruction will culminate with a case practicum in order for the participants to demonstrate their newly acquired proficiency.
Topics Covered:
1. Multidisciplinary Team Approach - Identifying the Need for Standardization
2. Forensic Science and Behavioral Science - Unity of Approach
3. Historical Perspective on Behavioral Analysis of Violent Crime
4. Research Methodology of Violent Crime Offenders
5. Criminal Investigative Assessment Process
6. Application of Victimology
7. Utility of Victim and Suspect Checklists
8. Identification of Personality Traits of Offenders
9. Formulation of Investigative, Interview and Trial Strategies
10. Understanding Reflective Crime Scenes
11. Assessing Violent Crime in Segments
12. Offender Dichotomies
13. Sexual Deviancy
14. Role of Fantasy in Violent Crime
15. Offender Typologies
16. Prosecutorial Considerations
17. Defense Issues
18. Equivocal Death Investigations
19. Paralogical Reasoning
20. Behaviorally Based Interviewing
21. Case Studies
22. Case Practicums