AJ005 Online
Criminal Investigation
Course Syllabus

Instructor

: Jim Smith

Telephone

: 408 741-2553

Email

: jim_smith@westvalley.edu

Website

: http://instruct.westvalley.edu/smith

Required Text

: Criminal Investigation by Swanson (Eleventh Edition). McGraw Hill Publishers.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Fundamentals of investigation, crime scene search and recording, preliminary investigation of physical evidence, modus operandi, sources of information, interviews and interrogation, follow-up investigations.

COURSE GOALS:

• To provide the student with the knowledge of why crime is investigated and the results that are desired.
• To develop in the student the knowledge necessary to prepare a case for court from the initial investigation to the trial.
• To equip the student with elementary interviewing and interrogation skills as swell as learning the legal requirements of confessions, admissions and statements.
• To teach the student the necessary steps and procedures as well as peculiarities in investigation of major crimes with emphasis on the crime of homicide.
• To provide the student with the types of investigative aids that are available such as records, computerized files, computer fingerprint files, and how to use these systems.
• To equip the student with the fundamentals of crime scene investigation, preservation of evidence, and courtroom presentation of the completed investigation.

GENERAL PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:

• When presented with the basic techniques of note taking, the student will be able to satisfactorily analyze and compile data for use in formal reporting of investigations.
• Given case studies, the student will demonstrate basic investigative proficiencies, to the satisfaction of the instructor, by synthesizing a situation and reducing the crime to reportable elements.
• The student will demonstrate the basic steps of interviewing using non-verbal observation and communication skills while conducting a satisfactory interview.
• In assigned exercises, the student will satisfactorily apply basic English rules to good reporting structures; to describe and identify evidentiary items in proper format.

EVALUATION METHODOLOGY:

Grading Methodology

Point Value

     A.  Syllabus Quiz

20

     B.  Autobiography Posting (including two replies to other postings)

20

     C.  Fourteen Weekly Lesson Quizzes @ 20 points each (Handouts/PowerPoint/Text)

280 

Total Points Possible

Lessons

Lesson 1

            Chapter 1      The Evolution of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science

Lesson 2

            Chapter 2      Legal Aspects of Investigation

Lesson 3

            Chapter 4      Physical Evidence

Lesson 4

            Chapter 5      Interviewing and Interrogation

            Chapter 6      Field Notes and Reporting

Lesson 5

            Chapter 7      The Follow Up Investigation and Investigative Resources

            Chapter 8      The Crime Laboratory

Lesson 6

            Chapter 9      Injury and Death Investigation

Lesson 7

            Chapter 10    Sex Related Offenses

            Chapter 11    Crimes against Children

Lesson 8

            Chapter 13    Robbery

Lesson 9

            Chapter 14    Burglary

Lesson 10

            Chapter 15    Larceny/Theft and White-Collar Crime

Lesson 11

Lesson 12

Lesson 13

Lesson 14

Grading Scale  (Final Grade)

693 - 770 = A

616 - 692 = B

539 - 615 = C

462 - 538 = D

000 - 537 = F

• Absolutely no homework or assignments will be accepted during the week of the final exam (summer or condensed classes excepted).  This may not be the same week as the classroom schedule, it is the week when the final is posted for this online class.

• The last week of this course usually ends earlier than the regular classroom schedule (summer or condensed classes excepted).  This allows time to trouble shoot any possible technical problems that may occur prior to the submission of final grades. You must complete and submit the final exam before the deadline.  I can't stress enough that you must follow the class calendar of due dates.  Past students that didn't read the syllabus, this notice, or just forgot, were very disappointed when they learned they missed the final and had to settle for a lower grade than they could have earned. There is a link to the class calendar in the Assignments menu of the class.

• The college policy on plagiarism and classroom dishonesty is strictly enforced in this class.  If you submit work that is not your own, you will be dropped from the class.

• The instructor may make changes to the syllabus during the semester.  It is your responsibility to stay informed of these changes.  You must check the class website at least once weekly for emails, postings from the instructor and upcoming assignment due dates!

• There will be no extra credit. Please do not inquire. All students will be assessed equally based upon the established course requirements.

• There are many videos and photographs used in the course that are considered graphic.  They depict death, means of death, actual suicides, murder victims and autopsies.  Death investigation is a major portion of any criminal investigation class and these visual aids are to help future investigators learn what caused death or a traumatic injury.  I personally have handled the investigation of many of the deaths displayed and always remember them as individuals such as ourselves.  Always respect the dignity of the victim, family, friends and investigative personnel involved in investigating crimes of this nature.  I will try to indicate that a photograph or video is considered especially graphic by this warning:
  (graphic)