Investigative and Prosecutorial Process

Criminal Investigations

Professor Andrew McIntosh

Final Project

Sierra Spangenberg

Feb 13, 2012

The two crimes I have chosen to outline the investigative and prosecutorial

process of for a successful case would be those of Homicide and Rape.

The definition for the offense of Homicide is the unlawful yet unpremeditated

voluntary killing of another. The convicted of such an offense a would receive a

sentence greater than that of manslaughter (involuntary killing of another), yet

lesser than that of murder (voluntary killing of another including premeditation).

On the other hand, when the crime of rape has been committed, it means that the

victim was forcibly penetrated in a sexual manner without mutual consent. I’ll be

speaking about the specific natures of the investigations of these crimes, the

sensitivity that would be required of the investigator of these crimes, the nature

of the prosecution upon the suspects of these crimes in a court of law setting, and

including ethical considerations for the successful investigation and prosecution

of cases where these two crimes occur.

In the case of a homicide, extreme compassion and sympathy should be shown to

the relatives and friends of the victim, who will likely be very upset that their

friend or relative has been killed. Friends and family often serve as witnesses to

the crime of homicide and can often offer investigator clues as to who may be the

perpetrator of said crime. For the investigation of a crime of rape, the

investigator has to be very sensitive to the rape victim, understanding that they

may be in a state of emotional shock, and to sensitively ask the victim for the

information necessary to investigate the suspects, as well as for their testimony

which may later be used as evidence when the trial goes to court. Furthermore,

beyond the interviews and interrogations, an element of sensitivity must be in

place for the collection,...