Criminal Investigation Inquiry Methods

1. What are methods of inquiry and how are they used in a criminal investigation?

Methods of Inquiry are the techniques and procedures utilized by a criminal investigator, to gather evidence and reconstruct the crime scene. The work and expertise of journalists, historians, archeologists, epidemiologists, criminal investigators and scientists in general; with disciplines including but not limited to; geology, physical anthropology, statistics, forensic medicine, physical geography, computer technology, and criminalistics; provide specialized, artistic and credible input, to attribute to crime scene reconstruction. Ultimately, the criminal investigator will utilize the specialized input in addition to; the four w’s, who, what, where, when, why, and how; to accurately reconstruct the crime scene. For Example: The criminal investigator will gather the witness testimony, the medical examiner’s testimony, the forensic investigators testimony, and the physical evidence as methods of inquiry, while utilizing the details and information to accurately reconstruct the crime scene

2. What is the optimal mindset of an investigator and how are the concepts associated with the optimal mindset of an investigator manifest?

The optimal mindset of an investigator can be developed through experience, education and practice; however it may also be considered a gift. One will possess the intelligence, reasoning, and observational ability to identify connections between unrelated items and/or data. The optimal mindset and personal attributes are what provide the investigator with the ability to read through the situation, to essentially provide a draft of the situation in question. For Example: After investigating a murder scene, where a 21 year old college girl was murdered after a “girls night out”; the investigator will be able to recount events as they may have happened, up to the point of the crime.

3. What is the scientific method and how is it applied to criminal...