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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for police investigations
40 results foundAuthor: Denning, Rebecca Title: Serious Violent Crime Investigations: A Systematic Literature Search and Technical Report Summary: The National Policing and Improvement Agency (NPIA) sought to understand the evidence base in relation to the effective investigation of serious crime to support its knowledge management strategy and National Improvement Strategy for Policing. This report which was prepared for NPIA presents a systematic search of the literature related to this topic, and designs and populates an associated evidence database on a range of topics relating to issue. Details: Brisbane: ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security, Griffith University, 2009. 165p. Source: Prepared for the National Policing Improvement Agency Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 117298 Keywords: Police InvestigationsSerious Crime InvestigationViolent Crime |
Author: Farrell, Amy Title: Understanding and Improving Law Enforcement Responses to Human Trafficking: Final Report Summary: Though recognition of the importance and severity of human trafficking has grown in recent years, the identification and investigation of human trafficking cases remains a complex undertaking for local law enforcement. Effectively responding to human trafficking requires officers to notice and identify victims who often have been hidden from or had poor relationships with law enforcement in the past (e.g., women in prostitution, migrants, immigrant community member, and poor women). Sometimes officers may be reluctant to intervene in sex and labor trafficking situations due to a belief that victims were complicit with their own victimization. Local law enforcement response is further complicated by immigration issues since many local agencies have made a decision to not inquire about citizen status during routine policing activities as a means of building trust and confidence in the local community. Additionally, the crime of human trafficking may take backseat to other institutional priorities such as violence and drugs. Finally, officers must look at old problems or traditional crime categories such as prostitution through a different lens and therefore reclassify ‚offenders‛ such as prostitutes as victims. Since the enforcement of the law in the United States is predominately carried out by the thousands of local, county and state agencies representing diverse environments and local crime problems and coming from a variety of different organizational structures, fully understanding how law enforcement perceives and responds to the problem of human trafficking in the United States necessitates inquiry into the specific experiences of these agencies. The majority of research on law enforcement responses to human trafficking to date has focused on the experiences of a narrow number of large municipal police departments who were perceived to be most likely to come into contact with incidents of human trafficking. While this research has provided an important starting point for understanding the challenges law enforcement agencies encounter in the identification and investigation of human trafficking, it represents only the experiences of a limited number of large agencies. On the other hand, the research presented here documents in a systematic fashion, the present response of local, state and county law enforcement to human trafficking in the U.S. It provides the first description of the steps taken by local law enforcement to identify human trafficking. Additionally, it will shed light on the impact of law enforcement efforts by measuring how often identification of trafficking victims leads to their rescue and the prosecution of trafficking perpetrators. Ultimately, this research will prove instrumental in providing local law enforcement in the U.S. with the necessary tools to successfully identify, investigate and aid in the prosecution of cases of human trafficking. The project addresses four main areas: 1) the perceptions of trafficking held by law enforcement and the preparation agencies have taken to address the problem; 2) the frequency in which law enforcement identifies and investigates cases of human trafficking and 3) the characteristics of those cases investigated by law enforcement and 4) the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases. Details: Boston, MA: Northeastern University, Institute on Race and Justice, 2008. 256p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/222752.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/222752.pdf Shelf Number: 110845 Keywords: Human TraffickingOrganized CrimePolice InvestigationsPolicingProstitutionSexual Exploitation |
Author: Innes, Martin Title: Measuring the Impact of Homicide on Community Reassurance: A Report to ACPO Homicide Working Group and NCPE Summary: This report details the findings of a proof of concept study conducted to examine the rationale and potential for measuring the impacts that criminal homicides have upon community reassurance and neighbourhood security. There were three basic aims of the study: 1) To examine how different criminal homicide incidents might impact upon levels of public reassurance generally and neighbourhood security more specifically in and around the particular areas connected to the crime; 2) To evaluation of the impact on levels of community reassurance and neighbourhood security of current standard police investigative practices used when responding to homicides; and 3) To explore and appraise a methodology for measuring the impacts of homicides on reassurance and neighbourhood security, and consider how this might contribute to the professional development of current community impact assessment tools used by police and improve the effectiveness of community impact management practices. Details: Cardiff, Wales: Police Science Institute, Cardiff University School of Social Sciences, 2006. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 28, 2010 at: http://www.upsi.org.uk/resources/CommunityImpactAssessment%20HomicideACPO2006.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.upsi.org.uk/resources/CommunityImpactAssessment%20HomicideACPO2006.pdf Shelf Number: 120111 Keywords: Fear of CrimeHomicidePolice Investigations |
Author: van Staden, Lauren Title: A Qualitative Study of a Dedicated Sexual Assault Investigation Unit Summary: This report presents the findings of a research study looking at the perceptions of those working in a dedicated sexual assault unit, set up as a pilot project for six months in September 2008. The Unit included dedicated police and non-police staff and was responsible for the processing, investigation and charging of sexual assault cases and victim care. Perceived benefits of the Unit focused predominantly on the improved quality of investigations and enhanced victim care. Many perceived these improvements to have been facilitated by the creation of dedicated and co-located posts, which allowed for a faster and more focused service. However, despite the perceived benefits of a dedicated team, few of those working in the Unit felt that the team had contributed to improved case outcomes. Details: London: Home Office, 2010. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Home Office Research Report 48: Accessed December 9, 2010 at: http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/horr48c.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/horr48c.pdf Shelf Number: 110834 Keywords: Police InvestigationsSexual Assault (U.K.)Victim ServicesVictims of Crime, Services for |
Author: Grampian Police Title: Missing Persons: Understanding, Planning, Responding Summary: When presented with any missing person enquiry, it is important to first consider the various scenarios which may account for the person not being where the informant expects them to be. There may be clear evidence that explains the absence, or points the enquiry in a particular direction. Unfortunately, in many cases there are no clear indicators as to what the missing person might have done, or where they may have gone. There are various ‘Profiling Tools’ set out in this booklet to assist officers with focusing in on the most likely scenario, as well as formulating the most appropriate response. The purpose of this booklet is to provide officers with background information on the most common mental illnesses, and the associated behaviour traits a missing person suffering from one of these conditions is likely to display. The booklet contains chapters on the following mental conditions: Depression; Suicide; Dementia; Psychosis / Schizophrenia; Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressives); Attention Deficiency Disorder (ADD) Chapters regarding ‘Missing Children’ and how to search for ‘People Missing in Water’ are also included. Once officers have established which, if any, mental condition a missing person is suffering from, they can consult the relevant chapter in the booklet. The missing person profile can then be further refined using the age and gender of the person as set out. Details: Aberdeen, UK: Grampian Police, 2007. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 18, 2011 at: http://www.missingpersons.gov.au/Assets/Files/169deac2-9629-45bb-9408-cabb9d9ded82.pdf Year: 2007 Country: International URL: http://www.missingpersons.gov.au/Assets/Files/169deac2-9629-45bb-9408-cabb9d9ded82.pdf Shelf Number: 120829 Keywords: Missing ChildrenMissing PersonsPolice Investigations |
Author: Sakiyama, Mari Title: Clearance Rates in Nevada, 1998-2009 Summary: Clearance rates provide one indication of law enforcement’s ability to apprehend criminal suspects. When clearance rates decline, it raises concerns about police performance. Nationally, in 2009, about 22% of all Part I crimes that were known to the police were cleared (FBI, 2010). Part I crimes include murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. There are two distinct ways that crimes are cleared. First, a crime can be cleared when “a law enforcement agency has identified the offender, there is enough evidence to charge him, and he is actually taken into custody” (DPS, 2009; p. 63). In addition to offenses cleared by arrest, a crime can be cleared through exceptional means. An offense may be exceptionally cleared when some elements beyond law enforcement control precludes formal charges against an offender due to the death of the offender (e.g., suicide, double murder, justifiably killed by police or citizen); the victim’s refusal to cooperate with the prosecution after the offender has been identified; or the denial of extradition because the offender committed a crime in another jurisdiction and is being prosecuted for that offense. Unless otherwise noted, clearance rates discussed in this report include crimes cleared by both arrest and exceptional means. This state data brief describes patterns of clearance rates in Nevada and compares them to national trends. It examines questions about the trend in clearance rates, differences in clearance rates for particular types of offenses, as well as jurisdictional differences in clearance rates across Nevada’s counties. The limitations of the data and this study are also addressed. Details: Las Vegas, NV: University of Nevada - Las Vegas, Center for the Analysis of Crime Statistics, 2010. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: State Data Brief: Accessed May 18, 2011 at: http://www.unlv.edu/centers/crimestats/SDBs/Clearance%20Rates/Clearance%20Rates%20v4.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.unlv.edu/centers/crimestats/SDBs/Clearance%20Rates/Clearance%20Rates%20v4.pdf Shelf Number: 121742 Keywords: ArrestsClearance Rates (Nevada)Police InvestigationsPolice Performance |
Author: Jones-Brown, Delores Title: An Exploratory Study of the Use of Confidential Informants in New Jersey Summary: Confidential informants (CIs) currently occupy a central role in law enforcement, particularly in the enforcement of drug laws, where officers, agents and prosecutors consider them indispensable to undercover and other operations. In virtually all types of criminal cases, state and federal sentencing schemes authorize reduced punishment for offenders who provide “substantial assistance” in the prosecution of others. The focus of the current study was drug enforcement. The findings suggest that despite judicial and legislative support for the practice, the use of CIs during the investigation and prosecution of such cases needs substantial review, revision, auditing, and oversight. While it has long been recognized that the use of criminal suspects to help enforce the law has the potential for significant benefit and abuse, the current findings confirm that innocent civilians may also find themselves under immense pressure to give federal, state, or local authorities information about the criminal activities of their neighbors, friends, or family members. The findings indicate that fear of criminal prosecution, monetary incentives and other inducements may motivate both criminal suspects and non-criminals to provide information that is not totally accurate. Inaccurate information can lead to false accusations and wrongful convictions. And, whether accurate or not, the provision of information may expose informants or their families to a substantial risk of bodily harm. In some law enforcement agencies, the research revealed a substantial use of information from CIs, rather than independent police work, as part of the routine investigation of drug activity. Reports of this heavy reliance on the use of CIs were coupled with allegations of questionable ethics associated with that use, some of them quite serious. The more serious cases led to diminished confidence in the justice system, and in some instances, substantial expense to taxpayers because of the monetary damages paid to those who were wrongfully accused or convicted. In one municipality (Lower Township, Cape May County), allegations that an officer engaged in the inappropriate use of CI information have led to two waves of dismissals of multiple criminal cases since this research began. This study revealed that while written policies regarding the use of CIs exist at the state, county, and municipal levels of government, at the state level, the policies are disjointed, spread throughout various documents. The counties’ policies differ from each other, sometimes substantially. And, contrary to the professional standards set by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), written policies do not exist in all of the municipal police departments. The research also revealed that even among the agencies intended to be governed by written policies, line officers are neither uniformly aware of the existence or terms of such policies, nor trained in them, leaving room for intentional and unintentional violations. Among law enforcement agents — both police and prosecutors — there was no clear agreement as to whether the written policies established by the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General are intended to be mandatory and binding on all agencies in the state or whether they are merely advisory. There also do not appear to be uniform, formal state, county, or municipal procedures for disciplining behavior among law enforcement that violates written CI policies. Based on these and other findings, the authors of this report conclude that the establishment of a mandatory uniform system of minimum standards for regulating and monitoring the use of CIs is an essential step toward improving the quality of justice within the state. In our opinion, this system can be created mainly by consolidating and modifying policies and practices that currently exist in some combination at the state, county, or municipal levels. In consultation with the ACLU, the authors have developed a set of broader recommendations. Details: Newark, NJ: American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, 2011. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2011 at: http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/other/report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/other/report.pdf Shelf Number: 121928 Keywords: Drug EnforcementInformants (New Jersey)Police InvestigationsPolice Policies and Procedures |
Author: Committee on the Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) Title: Human Rights and Dealing with Historic Cases - A Review of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Summary: In recent years, a number of concerns have been raised about the capacity of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (OPONI) to investigate historic cases due to the length of time taken, the quality of the reports it has published, and the conclusions reached. The most recent reports into historic cases published by the Office of the Police Ombudsman have contributed towards a questioning of the Office’s ability and commitment to undertake robust and impartial analysis. A growing lack of confidence in the Office is further exacerbated by the experiences and perceptions of some of those who have referred complaints to OPONI, in particular, those families involved in historic cases due to the death of a loved one. Under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, where complaints against the police relate to violations of the right to life, the UK government is obliged to conduct independent, effective, prompt, and transparent investigations. The UK government has argued during examinations before the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (the body empowered to monitor compliance with judgments of the European Court of Human Rights) that OPONI fulfils its obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This report therefore reviews the Office of the Police Ombudsman on how well it discharges its duties in accordance with the requirements of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights: effectiveness, efficiency (promptness), transparency and independence. Details: Belfast: Committee on the Administration of Justice, 2011. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2011 at: http://www.caj.org.uk/files/2011/06/16/OPONI_report_final1.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.caj.org.uk/files/2011/06/16/OPONI_report_final1.pdf Shelf Number: 122024 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationsOmbudsman (Northern Ireland)Police InvestigationsPolice Oversight |
Author: Westera, Nina Title: Improving Rape Investigations: Does Interview Format Matter? Summary: Sexual violence is a pervasive and devastating crime affecting many adults and children in Australia. Historically under-reported, this crime has been a site of significant reform both in terms of the rules of evidence and procedures governing police investigation. This briefing paper charts some of the progress made in establishing a ‘best practice’ for investigative interviews of complainants that preserves both the quality and quantity of memory recall. The research demonstrates the considerable forensic value of video recording complainant interviews, though notes that these new technologies are perceived by practitioners to be resource intensive. Ultimately, notwithstanding increased costs, the use of video-recording of complaint interviews enhances not only the quality of evidence but also guards against complainants being revictimised by the legal process itself. Details: Nathan, QLD: ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security, 2010. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper, Issue 3: Accessed July 20, 2011 at: http://www.ceps.edu.au/files/file/Nina%20Westera%20FINAL.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ceps.edu.au/files/file/Nina%20Westera%20FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 122119 Keywords: Police InvestigationsPolice QuestioningRape (Australia)Rape VictimsSexual Violence |
Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection Title: An Inspection Into the Independence of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Summary: This inspection arose because of concerns raised in relation to a lowering of the operational independence of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (OPONI). The purpose of the inspection was to assess the operational independence of the OPONI and examine any issues that could be said to undermine its independence. In the context of Northern Ireland the perception of independence as well as its reality is critical as it impacts directly on the confidence of those who engage with the organisation. In this inspection we have considered whether the independence of the OPONI has been or can be reasonably seen to have been reduced in terms of its decision-making capacity. The inspection report makes a number of findings. Firstly, that the legislative base for the work of the Police Ombudsman’s Office is solid and provides the necessary framework for the operation of an independent police complaints body. Moreover, there are a number of operational protocols in place that help define the nature of the relationship between the OPONI and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Again these help to secure the nature of the work of the organisation in relation to, for example, how complaints are dealt with. During the course of the inspection – with some exceptions – we did not hear any significant concerns over the ways in which the OPONI deals with current cases. This work comprises the vast majority of the work of the Police Ombudsman’s Office. The inspection did however identify a number of significant concerns over the ways in which the OPONI conducts investigations into historical cases. They include an inconsistent investigation process, a varied approach to communication with stakeholders and differences in quality assurance. In addition, we found a senior management team divided around the production of reports in this area and a fractured approach to governance and decisionmaking. The handling of sensitive material was also considered problematic. These issues have undermined confidence in the OPONI among some key stakeholders within the Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) sector and a range of staff within the organisation. What is clear from the inspection is the flawed nature of the investigation process used in historical cases which seems to be buffeted from a number of different directions. This has led to a lack of confidence among many of those involved in the process including some investigators themselves, victims’ families and their representatives, and the police. The way in which the OPONI deals with the investigation of historic cases has led to a lowering of its operational independence. The investigation of historic cases has the capacity to undermine the entire work of the OPONI and serve to decrease public confidence in the work that it undertakes. It is essential that these issues are addressed in response to this report. Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2011. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 7, 2011 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/18/18e1304a-9a19-4b5a-a1f8-faf1a5e807d6.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/18/18e1304a-9a19-4b5a-a1f8-faf1a5e807d6.pdf Shelf Number: 122672 Keywords: Ombudsman (Northern Ireland)Police InvestigationsPolice Oversight |
Author: National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE) Title: Practice Advice: Introduction to Intelligence-Led Policing Summary: The concept of intelligence-led policing underpins all aspects of policing, from neighbourhood policing and partnership work to the investigation of serious and organised crime and terrorism. Within the framework of the National Intelligence Model, the effective and efficient collection, recording, dissemination and retention of information allows for the identification of material which can be assessed for intelligence value and enables decision-making about priorities and tactical options. Where information has been derived from human sources, whether members of the public, criminals or police staff, additional risks and considerations arise about the management of such material. It is, therefore, important that staff understand the role that they play in the intelligence-led policing process, and how they can achieve the best results through knowledge of the following key aspects: the National Intelligence Model (NIM); the collection of information, including Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) issues and; the national Information/Intelligence Report (ie, the 5x5x5 process). This practice advice assumes no previous knowledge or experience of intelligence-led policing. It is designed as a quick reference guide for staff who are not intelligence specialists, but require an understanding of intelligence-led policing processes as part of their day-to-day duties. This includes team leaders/managers who have a key role ensuring that staff are fully briefed on their specific responsibilities. Staff involved in specialist intelligence roles, however, may also find the publication useful as an aide-memoir. Staff engaged in a training capacity can use the content to inform training products in relation to intelligence-led policing. This includes such national programmes as the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP), the Core Leadership and Development Programme (CLDP) and neighbourhood and community policing training. Details: Bedfordshire, United Kingdom: National Centre for Policing Excellence, Association of Chief Police Officers, 2007. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 28, 2012 at http://www.npia.police.uk/en/docs/Intelligence_Led_Policing_PA.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.npia.police.uk/en/docs/Intelligence_Led_Policing_PA.pdf Shelf Number: 123858 Keywords: Intelligence GatheringIntelligence-Led Policing, Manual (U.K.)Police InvestigationsPolice Training |
Author: Spohn, Cassia Title: Policing and Prosecuting Sexual Assault in Los Angeles City and County: A Collaborative Study in Partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Summary: We use quantitative data on the outcomes of sexual assaults reported to the LAPD and the LASD, detailed quantitative and qualitative data from case files for a sample of cases reported to the two agencies, and interviews with detectives and with deputy district attorneys to pursue five objectives: 1) to document the extent of case attrition and to identify the stages of the criminal justice process where attrition is most likely to occur; 2) to identify the case complexities and evidentiary factors that affect the likelihood of attrition in sexual assault cases; 3) to identify the predictors of case outcomes in sexual assault cases; 4) to provide a comprehensive analysis of the factors that lead police to unfound the charges in sexual assault cases; and 5) to identify the situations in which sexual assault cases are being cleared by exceptional means. We also identify the themes that emerged from our interviews with officials in each agency and with sexual assault survivors. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2012. 535p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 7, 2012 at https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/237582.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/237582.pdf Shelf Number: 124016 Keywords: Clearance RatesPolice InvestigationsPolice PerformanceProsecutionSexual Assault (Los Angeles) |
Author: Zeh, Jon M. Title: Decentralizing police detectives: Increasing efficiency of property crime investigations Summary: Beginning in November, 2007, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department implemented organizational changes to the Financial / Property Crimes Bureau by decentralizing all property crime detectives. Although no previous research was found on the decentralization of police detectives specifically, there is existing research on similar concepts that suggest at least two benefits of decentralizing police detectives: improved communication with patrol officers and increased efficiency of investigations. With these benefits in mind, the current study examines the following hypotheses: hypothesis 1: decentralizing property crime detectives will lead to improved quality of communication between property crime detectives and patrol officers; hypothesis 2: decentralizing property crime detectives will lead to greater efficiency of property crime investigations. This research will assume a quasi-experimental design with the Southeast Area Command (SEAC) being the experimental group by having detectives decentralized to an area command level and the Southwest Area Command (SWAC) being the comparison group, their detectives remaining at the centralized bureau level. The experimental iii condition began on November 1, 2007 and continued for 8 months, terminating on June 30, 2008 when SWAC was decentralized, ending the department wide reorganization and decentralization of property crimes detectives. Secondary data in the form of a survey that was administered to patrol officers and performance indicators from the area command and detective levels were received from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. These data were used to evaluate the impact that the decentralization had on communication between detectives and officers and the efficiency of property crime investigations. Details: Las Vegas, NV: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2009. 54p. Source: UNLV Theses/Dissertations/Professional Papers/Capstones, Paper 1153: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2012 at http://digitalcommons.library.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2155&context=thesesdissertations Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://digitalcommons.library.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2155&context=thesesdissertations Shelf Number: 125041 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationsPolice CommunicationPolice InvestigationsProperty Crime |
Author: Chorney, Brenda Title: Organized Crime Integrated Units: Analysis Report Summary: Public Safety Canada is maintaining a National Research Agenda on Organized Crime in support of the National Coordinating Committee on Organized Crime (NCC). As a step in this process, Public Safety Canada contracted PRA Inc., an independent research company, to compile an inventory of organized crime integrated teams and units1 operating across Canada and to conduct further analysis of a subset of the identified integrated units. An important component of combating organized crime is a collaborative integrated approach. The inventory will provide a greater understanding of the integrated teams operating across Canada, and, as such, will identify existing teams and units, as well as some basic information on each unit. The analysis component examines a subset of the integrated units identified through the inventory phase to gain a greater understanding of the operational aspects, challenges, and keys to success for these units. This report presents the findings for the analysis component. The report also incorporates information obtained while compiling the inventory database. Details: Ottawa: Research and National Coordination, Organized Crime Division, Law Enforcement and Policing Branch, Public Safety Canada, 2010. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 7, 2012 at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/sp-ps/PS4-101-2010-eng.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/sp-ps/PS4-101-2010-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 125500 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationLaw Enforcement CollaborationOrganized Crime (Canada)Police Investigations |
Author: Alach, Zhivan Title: A Tough Nut to Crack: Performance Measurement in Specialist Policing Summary: In the past two decades, public sector performance (and by extension police performance) has become increasingly important, especially in the Western world. However, while there is extensive academic work being done on the generalist tasks undertaken by most policemen every day, there has been very little attention paid to specialist policing performance. This is of some concern, as specialist policing presents a number of interesting challenges to the observer, particularly in terms of clearly identifying the role played by specialist policing in achieving larger outcomes. This report examines the issue of performance reporting in the specialist policing field and describes the development of an innovative performance framework for specialist policing by the Auckland Metropolitan Crime and Operational Support (AMCOS), a specialist policing unit of the New Zealand Police. There has been increasing attention paid to public sector performance management in recent years, and many Western police forces have correspondingly become increasingly performance-focused, despite the challenges they face in doing so. The benefits that can accrue from performance measurement include improving value for money, improving managerial competency and increasing accountability (Collier 2006). But difficulties that relate to so-called ‘perverse behaviours’ can also arise (Loveday 2005: 98), where for a variety of reasons, performance measures become more important than the valuable activities they seek to describe. Adopting performance measures for specialist policing has introduced its own set of challenges. Specialist policing is most easily defined by specifying what it is not—it is not the general, reactive patrol and investigative capability that comprises the majority of most police forces. Rather, specialist policing comprises two main categories— technical units, such as forensics and specialist operational units (eg helicopter, dog), and niche units, which are often investigative units engaged in proactive operations against a particular subcategory of criminality (eg drugs). The general lack of performance measurement attention that has been paid to specialist policing activities is likely related to issues of responsibility. Technical units provide a small part of a greater outcome and identifying what part they played in that outcome can be almost impossible. Niche units face even greater challenges, as their work can be lost among a much larger quantity of generalist activity. As such, it seems most rewarding to focus specialist policing performance measurement on outputs, at least until there is sufficient theory to take the next step to an outcome focus. The AMCOS performance framework was developed locally, to guard against the imposition of a more generic model as well as promote flexibility and an emphasis on improvement rather than accountability. The framework, while focused on specialist policing outputs, is clearly linked to outcomes at the strategic level. The four main categories of the framework fall within the broader concept of technical and niche units described previously and comprise: • forensic performance measures; • operations support performance measures; • intelligence performance measures; and • investigations performance measures. Identifying and developing measures for these categories was affected by different considerations, for example, the general absence of agreed definitions and reliable data on which to frame investigations performance measures and the contributory rather than absolute effect that forensics units have on major police outputs and outcomes. Five factors were identified as being either critical in the development or implementation of such a framework. These were: • the importance of managerial support; • the value of consulting previous work, • the necessity of consultation, • issues around identifying respective shares of specialist resources to other policing groups, and • recognition of ongoing difficulties with measuring the performance of niche units. The next evolution of the AMCOS performance framework will focus on improving an understanding of the links between outputs and outcomes. AMCOS is currently working towards aligning and integrating performance measurement into its business planning, project management and risk management frameworks. The end goal is to have a centrally directed, but locally managed, performance management framework based on core strategic goals, which is integrated into planning and project management processes. This integration is operating on the principle that performance is only valuable if it serves as the basis for action. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2012. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Technical and Background Paper 53: Accessed November 2, 2012 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/F/F/6/%7BFF65539E-BE83-45F6-BA97-1BA6959CCD1B%7Dtbp053.pdf Year: 2012 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/F/F/6/%7BFF65539E-BE83-45F6-BA97-1BA6959CCD1B%7Dtbp053.pdf Shelf Number: 126823 Keywords: ForensicsPolice Intelligence UnitsPolice InvestigationsPolice Performance (New Zealand)Police Specialist Units |
Author: Darehshori, Sara Title: Capitol Offense: Police Mishandling of Sexual Assault Cases in the District of Columbia Summary: Sexual assault is the most underreported serious crime in the United States. Victims fear authorities will not believe them and that reporting will only cause them more pain. This fear may be well-grounded. Police are often skeptical of victims and sometimes respond to reports of assaults in ways that are re-traumatizing. Based on extensive data analysis, documents from four government agencies, and more than 150 interviews, Capitol Offense examines the handling of sexual assault cases by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of the District of Columbia. The report provides strong evidence that between 2008 and September 2011 the MPD mishandled many complaints of sexual assault in D.C. In several cases, victims who reported sexual assaults to the police never had their case documented, or saw it languish when officers apparently determined without effective investigation that their claims were not credible. Human Rights Watch also documented inappropriate and harmful treatment of victims by MPD, such as questioning victims’ credibility; actively discouraging victims from reporting or providing forensic evidence; or asking victim-blaming questions. Not documenting or investigating reports of sexual assault denies justice to the victims, is a public safety issue, and misrepresents to the public the incidence of sexual assault in D.C. Victims who are not treated appropriately are less likely to cooperate with investigations, further reducing chances that perpetrators will be brought to justice. These problems do not appear to stem from official MPD policy, but rather from practices followed within the MPD that, during the period examined, were inconsistent with departmental policy and post-2008 reforms. Since learning of this report’s findings in May 2012, the MPD has adopted a number of our recommendations and made some policy changes. However, ensuring meaningful and sustained change requires more: it needs a commitment by leadership to change departmental practices, increase accountability and responsiveness, and extend external oversight of reforms to ensure transparency. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2013. 210p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2013 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/us0113ForUpload_0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/us0113ForUpload_0.pdf Shelf Number: 127464 Keywords: Police BehaviorPolice InvestigationsRapeSex OffendersSex OffensesSexual Assaults (Washington, DC)Sexual Violence |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Title: "Mistakes Were Made." HMIC's review into allegations and intelligence material concerning Jimmy Savile between 1964 and 2012 Summary: HMIC's review of allegations made against Jimmy Savile during his lifetime finds mistakes were made by the police; and while policies and practices designed to improve the experience of child victims are now available, we raise serious concerns over why so many victims felt unable to come forward and report what had happened to the authorities. Details: London: HMIC, 2013. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2013 at: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/review-into-allegations-and-intelligence-material-concerning-jimmy-savile.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/review-into-allegations-and-intelligence-material-concerning-jimmy-savile.pdf Shelf Number: 128010 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectJimmy SavileOperation YewtreePolice InvestigationsPolice Misconduct (U.K.) |
Author: Quinton, Paul Title: Risk, Bureaucracy and Missing Persons: An evaluation of a new approach to the initial police response Summary: Three forces piloted a new approach to missing persons for a three month period. While officers were previously required to attend all incidents as the default initial response, the pilot introduced a new risk assessment process and ‘absence’ category. During the pilot, this category of incidents (involving a person who was not where they were expected to be but not thought to be at risk of harm) were to be monitored by police call handlers without officers being deployed immediately. The evaluation found promising qualitative evidence of the pilot having achieved its primary aim – to make the initial police response to missing persons reports more proportionate to risk. It was thought – as a side benefit – that a more proportionate approach might also help free up police capacity. The evaluation found consistent evidence of the pilot having achieved this secondary aim. Did the pilot result in a more proportionate and risk-based response? • The qualitative research found a widespread perception among officers that the pilot had helped to better identify those at risk, and ensured that higher risk incidents received the attention they required. • This result was not reflected in some of the survey findings. Based on officer descriptions, a high proportion of incidents in the pilot sites were assessed to be low risk. Did a more proportionate response help free up police capacity? • Despite an increase in the number of recorded incidents in the pilot sites, around a third were classified as absences and, thus, did not require officers to attend. • By being more proportionate, the pilot forces were able to target resources better and free up capacity. A saving of 200 shifts over the three month period was estimated as a result of officers not attending absences. The amount of time spent on the initial response to missing persons was also reduced in the pilot sites (-23%) relative to the comparison sites (-3%). In theory, these resources could be redirected towards higher risk incidents. Did the pilot improve officer attitudes and job satisfaction? • Most response officers and supervisors who were interviewed welcomed the pilot, and said their attitudes about attending missing persons incidents had improved. • A survey of officers, however, did not reveal a consistent pattern of attitude change. How did partners view the pilot? • There was widespread view among partners that the police should move away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to missing persons. • About two-thirds of respondents were positive or neutral about the pilot. A third were more critical, mainly raising concerns about the application of the new category. • The quality of the engagement partners reportedly received from the police before implementation seemed to affect their level of support for the pilot. • The reduction in missing person coordinators in the pilot forces – an organisational change that was unconnected to the pilot – was potentially regarded as a greater problem. How was the pilot perceived to have affected police safeguarding work? • There was no evidence to suggest the pilot had undermined forces’ ability to carry out proactive safeguarding work (though it was a perceived concern for some partners). • The reduction in missing person coordinators in the pilot forces reportedly would have placed pressure on monitoring and partnership work after the pilot (though it continued). Details: Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, UK: College of Policing, 2013. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2013 at: http://www.college.police.uk/en/docs/130320_Missing_persons_PUBLICATION_PQ.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.college.police.uk/en/docs/130320_Missing_persons_PUBLICATION_PQ.pdf Shelf Number: 128750 Keywords: Missing ChildrenMissing Persons (U.K.)Police InvestigationsRunaways |
Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection Title: The Relationship Between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Summary: This inspection examines the overall relationship between the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (OPONI) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and in particular, how requests for police intelligence surrounding historical cases are handled by the PSNI and recommendations from the OPONI, are considered and implemented by the PSNI. Concerns have been expressed from nongovernmental organisations, the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) and some families of victims of the Troubles that the PSNI were being unhelpful in supporting the OPONI investigations of historical cases. Questions were raised about whether the OPONI was able to access all sensitive intelligence material held by the police in respect of historical cases and about how the police were responding to recommendations and findings of the OPONI investigations into historical cases. Founding legislation never envisaged the OPONI conducting retrospective Troubles related investigations. However, in the absence of an agreed mechanism for dealing with the past, the Office must now fulfil these statutory obligations. The use of informants and actions or inactions of the police during the Troubles has little or no relevance for many of the operational officers of the PSNI, the majority of whom were recruited after the Belfast Agreement. However, the issue continues to divide public and political opinion and fuels the call for an agreed mechanism for dealing with the past. It is in the interest of both the OPONI and the police that a mutually respectful working relationship is developed. The police need to be confident that complaints made against officers will be investigated thoroughly and fairly, and the Police Ombudsman's investigators need to be confident that the police are co-operating fully with their investigations. Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2013. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 16, 2014 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/b9/b97d8f4a-295f-42d5-8e63-ecc2199307c8.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/b9/b97d8f4a-295f-42d5-8e63-ecc2199307c8.pdf Shelf Number: 132471 Keywords: OmbudsmanPolice IntelligencePolice InvestigationsPolice Legitimacy (Northern Ireland)Police-Community Relations |
Author: Police Executive Research Forum Title: Improving the Police Response To Sexual Assault Summary: PERF's Summit on "Improving the Police Response to Sexual Assaults," was held on September 23, 2011. This conference brought together approximately 150 police executives, leaders of women's and crime victim organizations, FBI leaders and other federal officials, and others to explore weaknesses in the investigation of sexual assault crimes.At PERF's conference, police executives described several initiatives that have been undertaken to prevent improper "unfounding" of cases, including: - Conducting audits of past cases to identify improperly classified cases; - Eliminating the authority of patrol officers to determine that a case is unfounded, and requiring approval of superior officers to classify a case as unfounded; - Working with advocacy groups to improve transparency and oversight of policing handling of sexual assault cases; and - Improved training of officers regarding the dynamics of rape and how they differ from other crimes. For example, rape victims often feel shame, embarrassment, or stigma that victims of robbery or other serious crimes do not experience. Details: Washington, DC: PERF, 2012. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Critical Issues in Policing Series: Accessed July 16, 2014 at: http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Critical_Issues_Series/improving%20the%20police%20response%20to%20sexual%20assault%202012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Critical_Issues_Series/improving%20the%20police%20response%20to%20sexual%20assault%202012.pdf Shelf Number: 130802 Keywords: Police Education and TrainingPolice InvestigationsPolice ResponseRapeSexual AssaultSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Taylor, S. Caroline Title: Policing Just Outcomes: Improving the Police Response to Adults Reporting Sexual Assault Summary: The prevalence of sexual assault and its consequent harm to both individual victims and society as a whole has now been widely researched, documented and recognised in Western jurisdictions for generations. In particular, policing of this gendered5 crime has been the subject of many research endeavours and police organisations have increasingly opened their doors to academics and other researchers in pursuit of evidence-based knowledge that will assist them to enhance their training, investigations and Brief preparations in this respect. Victoria Police has been among the foresighted police organisations in this regard over the past several years. This report is the result of one major research endeavour concerning reports of sexual assault made by adults and the related police response, investigation and management involving Edith Cowan University in partnership with Victoria Police. This study was designed in terms of three strands, each of which incorporated a number of interrelated research programs. Strand one focused on victims/survivors and it proceeded through the use of an online survey and interviews of adult victims/survivors as well as focus groups and interviews of police officers in the State of Victoria and rape crisis counsellors from Centres Against Sexual Assault located across Victoria. Strand two focused on police decision-making processes and police networking in relation to complaints of sexual assault by adults. It proceeded through close reading of Victoria Police operational case files, individual interviews and focus groups involving police, and a focus group of Office of Public Prosecutions personnel. Strand three focused on the management of the police response and the recruitment, training and development of police for the specialist role of sexual assault policing. It proceeded through the use of strand two methods, as well as observation of Victoria Police training courses, police trainee feedback sheets and online survey, and interview of trainers in relation to the specialist sexual assault policing role. Details: Perth, Western Australia: Edith Cowan University, 2012. 411p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2014 at: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/fcdc/inquiries/57th/Child_Abuse_Inquiry/Submissions/Professor_Caroline_Taylor_Appenedix_1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/fcdc/inquiries/57th/Child_Abuse_Inquiry/Submissions/Professor_Caroline_Taylor_Appenedix_1.pdf Shelf Number: 133932 Keywords: Police AttitudesPolice Decision-MakingPolice InvestigationsRape (Australia)Sexual AssaultVictims of CrimesViolence Against Women |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Title: An inspection of undercover policing in England and Wales Summary: In a letter dated 27 June 2013, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to inspect the effectiveness of the arrangements in place in all police forces to carry out, manage and scrutinise undercover operations. Our inspection was to include all regional and national policing units, and the National Crime Agency. This was not an inquiry into the past events that have caused widespread concern about the way the police use undercover tactics; these past events fall to others to examine. Our inspection has examined how well undercover policing is carried out now. HMIC is an independent inspectorate which has responsibility under section 54(2), Police Act 1996 to inspect on the "efficiency and effectiveness of every police force maintained for a police area" in England and Wales. It also has statutory responsibility to inspect the National Crime Agency. We were invited to include Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in our inspection. In order to provide a comprehensive picture, the British Transport Police, the Home Office Immigration Enforcement and the Royal Military Police - all of which may also carry out undercover operations - were included in our inspection. This is the first time that HMIC has inspected all law enforcement agencies that have the capability and capacity to deploy undercover officers. Details: London: HMIC, 2014. 202p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 13, 2014 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/an-inspection-of-undercover-policing-in-england-and-wales.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/an-inspection-of-undercover-policing-in-england-and-wales.pdf Shelf Number: 133941 Keywords: Police EffectivenessPolice InvestigationsUndercover OperationsUndercover Policing (U.K.) |
Author: Hoffer, Tia Title: Operational Safety Considerations While Investigating Child Sex Offenders. A Handbook for Law Enforcement Volume 1 Summary: The danger to the law enforcement officer who is initiating a search warrant or arrest of a Child Sex Offender (CSO) is most likely underestimated. CSOs are often perceived to be less dangerous and nonviolent. However, CSOs pose a significant risk to themselves and in turn can potentially be a danger to law enforcement officers. This handbook, based on a review by the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit III- Crimes Against Children of over 100 cases of CSOs who committed suicide, is the first of a two part handbook addressing salient operational and safety factors that might arise between law enforcement and CSOs. A Volume II will provide specific skills and techniques that can be utilized by law enforcement in gathering information about potential risk factors impacting CSO behavior. Details: Quantico, VA: FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit III, Crimes Against Children, 2012. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: http://leb.fbi.gov/2013/may/officers-and-child-sex-offenders-operational-safety-considerations Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://leb.fbi.gov/2013/may/officers-and-child-sex-offenders-operational-safety-considerations Shelf Number: 134176 Keywords: Child Sex OffendersChild Sexual AbuseCriminal InvestigationsPolice InvestigationsPolice Training (U.S.)Suicide Prevention |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Summary: "No answers, no apology" was how a mother described the response of the police in Malaysia to her inquiries about her son who was shot to death by police officers. Her experience is echoed by many other families whose relatives have been killed or injured by the Malaysian police. Based on in-depth interviews in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and in Selangor, Johor, Kelantan, and Perak, this report documents failures by Malaysian authorities to adequately investigate allegations of deaths and mistreatment of persons in police custody, unjustified shootings, and excessive use of force in dispersing peaceful public demonstrations. There is typically no meaningful accountability for the police officers and officials implicated in such abuses. The police do not effectively investigate allegations of misconduct and the government has shown no inclination to ensure they do so. This impunity is facilitated by the lack of a robust, independent oversight body focused specifically on police accountability, and the police force's poor record of cooperation with existing oversight bodies, including the national human rights commission, SUHAKAM. Police secrecy about internal policies, such as standing orders on the use of force and firearms, further frustrates external investigations. Police need to be accountable to the public and should demonstrate that their policies and practices conform to international human rights standards. External pressure and oversight are important in improving accountability, and police leadership and effective supervision are critical to preventing abuse and misconduct. Human Rights Watch recommends that the Malaysian government create an independent, external commission tasked solely to receive and investigate complaints about police misconduct and abuse. Police authorities should establish an ombudsman's office empowered to receive and follow up on complaints of police abuse and take disciplinary action against officers. Those authorities should also share internal police standing orders with external oversight bodies and reform those orders to bring them into compliance with international human rights standards. Details: New York: HRW, 2014. 128p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 22, 2015 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/malaysia0414_ForUpload.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Malaysia URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/malaysia0414_ForUpload.pdf Shelf Number: 134443 Keywords: Human Rights Abuses (Malaysia)Police AccountabilityPolice BrutalityPolice InvestigationsPolice LegitimacyPolice MisconductPolice Use of Force |
Author: Independent Police Complaints Commission (U.K.) Title: Policing handling of allegations of discrimination Summary: In 2013, the IPCC published a report on the Metropolitan Police Service's handling of race discrimination complaints, following some well-publicised cases. This revealed some significant weaknesses in complaints handling in general, which were even more acutely revealed in dealing with discrimination allegations. We therefore decided to examine the way the other three large English metropolitan forces - West Midlands, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire - deal with allegations in relation to any kind of discrimination: including race, disability, age, gender and sexual orientation. This report sets out the findings, and they are stark. In general, and particularly in relation to complaints that come from members of the public, these complaints are poorly handled from beginning to end - in relation to the way the complaint is investigated, the conclusions drawn and, importantly, the contact with the complainant. Only 94 of the 170 complaints from the public were investigated, and none of the discrimination allegations were upheld. By contrast, where discrimination allegations had been raised by other officers, other external parties, over half of these were upheld. It is of course welcome that some police officers are themselves prepared to challenge colleagues, but allegations from the public need to be taken equally seriously and dealt with effectively. Details: London: IPCC, 2014. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 19, 2015 at: https://www.ipcc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/guidelines_reports/IPCC_report_police_handling_of_allegations_of_discrimination_June2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.ipcc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/guidelines_reports/IPCC_report_police_handling_of_allegations_of_discrimination_June2014.pdf Shelf Number: 134977 Keywords: Bias Crimes Police InvestigationsRace Discrimination (U.K.) |
Author: Koops, Bert-Jaap Title: Cyberspace, the cloud, and cross-border criminal investigation. Cyberspace, the cloud, and cross-border criminal investigation Summary: With the rise of cloud computing (using scalable computing resources as a service via the Internet), computer data are increasingly stored remotely - 'in the cloud' - instead of on users' devices. Due to the distributed, dynamic, and redundant nature of cloud storage, a particular file can often be stored in multiple places simultaneously, while it may not be stored in any single place in its entirety. For speed-optimisation reasons, data may be stored in the server park closest to the user's normal location. Cloud computing can involve multiple providers in different layered constellations and data can be encrypted. The cloud thus has significant implications for criminal investigation, particularly in cases where digital evidence is sought. Local search and seizure by the police will yield less and less evidence as users use cloud services such as webmail and remote data storage. This reinforces existing challenges of cyber-investigation, which not only requires swift evidence-gathering due to the vulnerability of data loss, but also powers to gain access to data remotely. One particular challenge in cyber-investigation is that such remote evidence-gathering powers will quickly extend beyond national borders. Under the rules of international law, states must then resort to traditional procedures of mutual legal assistance. This is, broadly speaking, a challenging process in cyber-investigations. In addition to organisational limitations, such as lack of capacity or priority-setting, and some legal limitations, such as double criminality, mutual assistance procedures are viewed by those conducting on-line investigations as cumbersome or ineffective for seeking digital evidence. Despite efforts to streamline and facilitate mutual legal assistance in cyber-investigation, the procedures remain inadequate in situations in which there is a need for expeditious data gathering, or where (cyber)criminals move data around with high frequency, and also where the location of the data cannot, or only through time-consuming efforts, be identified, which may often be the case in cloud computing situations. Where mutual legal assistance procedures do not work sufficiently, the question arises whether and under what conditions cross-border investigations are allowed, which is relevant not only for cybercrimes but for all crimes where perpetrators communicate via email or smartphone apps or use cloud storage services. Although a number of efforts have been aimed at trying to move forward in the field of cross-border cyber-investigation, these efforts have not yet resulted in any tangible improvement. A key reason for this is that territorially-based national sovereignty forms the basis of the international order and as a result, international law is strict in prohibiting investigative activities on foreign territory without the consent of the state concerned. The situation is thus one of stalemate: cyber-investigation officials wish to move forward in cross-border investigation but cannot do so because of the current limitations of international law and because the specific challenges of cyber-investigation have so far not induced states to create new international rules in this area that put strict interpretations of sovereignty aside. It is against this background of a 21st-century cloud computing paradigm meeting with 20th-century-based procedures for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters that the central problem of this study takes shape. This report aims to advance the debate on cross-border cyber-investigation by combining the fields of cyber-investigation and international law. The central question addressed in this study is what limits and what possibilities exist within international law for cross-border cyber-investigations by law enforcement authorities. The focus is on cloud storage services, but the analysis applies more generally to Internet investigations, in particular in the form of remote searches and the contacting of foreign service providers to request data. In particular, the report focuses on questions of the legality of cross-border access to data under international law in terms of the core principles of territorial integrity and non-interference in domestic affairs rather than on questions of human rights. The research for this report is based on desk research of international and supranational law and policy and academic literature in the fields of cyber-investigation and of international law, and on an international expert meeting with twenty experts in criminal law, cybercrime, Internet, and international law. Details: Tilburg, NETH: TILT - Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society, 2014. 101p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2015 at: http://english.wodc.nl/onderzoeksdatabase/2326-de-gevolgen-van-cloudcomputing-voor-de-opsporing-en-vervolging.aspx?cp=45&cs=6796 Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://english.wodc.nl/onderzoeksdatabase/2326-de-gevolgen-van-cloudcomputing-voor-de-opsporing-en-vervolging.aspx?cp=45&cs=6796 Shelf Number: 135266 Keywords: Cloud ComputingComputer CrimesCybercrimeInternet CrimesPolice Investigations |
Author: LexisNexis Title: Social Media Use in Law Enforcement: Crime prevention and investigative activities continue to drive usage Summary: Overview Social media is increasingly valuable to the way law enforcement professionals operate in both crime prevention and investigation. However, as social media use becomes more prevalent, there remain many questions regarding how exactly it is utilized to optimal effect in criminal investigations. LexisNexis, in a follow-up to its initial study in 2012, sought to further examine the law enforcement community's understanding of, and ongoing efforts to leverage social media. The LexisNexis 2014 Social Media Use in Law Enforcement report looks at current practices and processes and how the landscape has changed over the last two years in addition to new survey research areas. Details: Los Angeles: LexisNexis, 2014. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://www.lexisnexis.com/risk/downloads/whitepaper/2014-social-media-use-in-law-enforcement.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.lexisnexis.com/risk/downloads/whitepaper/2014-social-media-use-in-law-enforcement.pdf Shelf Number: 135884 Keywords: Crime PreventionPolice InvestigationsSocial Media |
Author: Angiolini, Elish Title: Report of the Independent Review into The Investigation and Prosecution of Rape in London Summary: The review relates only to the service provided to complainants of rape and serious sexual offences who are supported by Sapphire investigation teams. Offences that are perpetrated against children within parent or carer relationships are within the remit of the Child Abuse Investigation Teams and fall outside the scope of this report. Serious sexual offences against children falling outside of parent or carer relationships are dealt with by Sapphire investigation teams. However, the remit for this review focusses on the response to adult complainants only as the specifics of managing child complainants demand a further and distinct skill set which was outwith the scope of this review. There are, therefore two sets of data. Appendix A relates to all allegations of rape and penetration which are investigated within the Metropolitan Police Service. Appendix B relates only to rape and penetration offences investigated by Sapphire investigation teams. Sapphire crime data will include complainants who are children. 2. The review took place in three distinct phases, - Phase 1. Benchmarking of current structures, service provision and performance of both the police and Crown Prosecution Service. - Phase 2. A review in London of a broad sample of police and Crown Prosecution Service case files with a particular emphasis on any attitudinal barriers that may 'prevent an effective criminal justice response'. - Phase 3. Consultation with panels of experts, practitioners and complainants of rape in order to identify how the service to complainants can be improved. Details: London: Metropolitan Police Service and Crown Prosecution Service, 2015. 161p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: http://content.met.police.uk/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Type&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3D%22494%2F967%2FDame+Elish+Angiolini+Rape+Review+2015%2C0.pdf%22&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1283963458477&ssbinary=true Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://content.met.police.uk/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Type&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3D%22494%2F967%2FDame+Elish+Ang Shelf Number: 135967 Keywords: Police InvestigationsRapeSex OffendersSexual AssaultViolence Against Women |
Author: McEwen, Tom Title: Evaluation of the Phoenix Homicide Clearance Project. Volume 1 Summary: This report prepared by the Institute for Law and Justice, Inc. (ILJ) provides the results of an evaluation of the Homicide Clearance Project in the Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department. In 2004, the department received a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance providing support for the assignment of four crime scene specialists directly to the department's Homicide Unit. Responsibilities of the crime scene specialists were to collect evidence at homicide scenes, prepare scene reports, develop scene diagrams, and other supportive activities. Prior to the project, homicide investigators were responsible for evidence collection, which reduced the time they could devote to investigations. The primary objective of the Homicide Clearance Project was to improve homicide clearance rates by increasing investigative time through the addition of the four crime scene specialists. ILJ evaluated the Homicide Clearance Project under a grant provided by the National Institute of Justice. As described in this report, the evaluation consisted of process and impact assessments of the project. Because of the excellent cooperation of the Phoenix Police Department, ILJ expanded the evaluation to conduct research on several other aspects of homicide investigations, including an analysis of investigative procedures for closed cases, a summary of obstacles faced in solving open cases, a comparison of homicide characteristics in Phoenix with other research studies, a detailed breakdown of evidence collected at homicide scenes, and a review of the role of forensic evidence in homicide investigations and trials. Transfers of the four crime scene specialists were effective on July 1, 2004. The crime scene specialists were assigned to two of the four investigative squads within the homicide unit. They began on-the-job training immediately upon their transfers by accompanying investigators to scenes and observing the collection and storage of evidence. The training proceeded quickly because they were familiar with homicide scenes and because they generally knew departmental procedures from their years of experience in the crime laboratory. By September 2004, the crime scene specialists were able to handle homicide scenes with minimal supervision from investigators, and they had learned how to prepare scene reports documenting the evidence. Prior to the grant, the role of crime scene specialists was limited to photographs and latent prints. Investigators were responsible for evidence collection. Investigators marked each item of evidence, placed the evidence in appropriate evidence containers, transported the evidence to headquarters, and turned the evidence over to the property room. They later prepared scene reports that described the evidence collection process and provided details on each item of evidence collected (type of evidence, description, exact location, etc.). Assignment of crime scene specialists to the unit was seen as a way to relieve a considerable amount of workload from investigators. The decision to assign the four crime scene specialists to two of the four squads provided an opportunity to compare performance between the two pairs of squads. As with other investigative units, the primary performance measure was homicide clearance rates-the percentage of cases that homicide investigators solve. The hypothesis was that the squads with crime scene specialists would do better than the other squads compared against their performance prior to the grant project. In theory, investigators in the experimental squads would have more time for investigations, which in turn would lead to higher clearance rates. The comparison squads would continue to operate as in the past with investigators having responsibility for evidence collection and with crime scene specialists assigned to take photographs and dust for latent prints. With the Homicide Clearance Project, the Phoenix Police Department was also testing whether crime scene specialists could work effectively within the environment of the homicide unit. It was the department's first test for assigning civilian personnel from the crime laboratory to an investigative unit. The crime scene specialists reported to supervisory personnel who headed the experimental squads. The department also wanted to be sure that the four crime scene specialists were capable of preparing the same quality of scene reports that homicide investigators produced. The evaluation addressed both these objectives. Details: Alexandria, VA: Institute for Law and Justice, 2009. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2015 at: http://www.ilj.org/publications/docs/EvalReport_Volume_I.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.ilj.org/publications/docs/EvalReport_Volume_I.pdf Shelf Number: 136776 Keywords: Clearance RatesCrime Scene InvestigationCriminal InvestigationsHomicidesPolice Investigations |
Author: European Parliament. Directorate-General for Internal Policies. Policy Department C: Citizzen's Rights and Constitutional Affairs Title: The Law Enforcement Challenges of Cybercrime: Are We Really Playing Catch-Up Summary: Cybercrime has become one of the key priorities for EU law enforcement agencies, as demonstrated by the establishment of the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) in January 2013 and the development of specific European threat assessment reports in this field. High-profile criminal investigations such as the 'Silk Road' case, major data breaches or particularly nefarious hacks or malware attacks have been very much in the spotlight and widely reported in the media, prompting discussions and debates among policymakers and in law enforcement circles. Over the last few months, the cybercrime debate has specifically evolved around the issue of encryption and anonymisation. In this context, this Study argues that debates on the law enforcement challenge of cybercrime in the EU should steer clear both of doomsday scenarios that overstate the problem and scepticism that understates it, and that the key cybercrime concern for law enforcement is legal in nature rather than simply technical and technological. Indeed, the Study finds that the key challenge for law enforcement is the lack of an effective legal framework for operational activities that guarantees the fundamental rights principles enshrined in EU primary and secondary law. In order to address this core argument, this Study starts by analysing claims and controversies over the Internet 'going dark' on law enforcement (Section 2). It shows that these claims have been made for quite some time and should be considered as moral panics rather than accurate reflections of the challenges posed by cybercrime to law enforcement. Moreover, current controversies rehash older ones, conflating law enforcement concerns with intelligence-gathering and surveillance concerns. Without denying the fact that criminal activities do take place online, pose technical difficulties to law enforcement services and require the availability of specific capabilities, this section demonstrates that these difficulties do not impede criminal investigation to such an extent that exceptional means should be envisaged. While these technical aspects need to be considered, they raise issues related to policy and law rather than technology as such. The policy and law-related challenges are made greater by the fact that defining cybercrime is not an easy task. Very broad definitions have been adopted at the EU level, often leading to overlapping and sometimes conflicting mandates. Section 3 thus analyses the institutional architecture of EU cybercrime policy. It shows that the complexity of cybercrime measures and the expansive mandates and number of actors involved in their implementation make it difficult to ascertain and circumscribe the full scope of EU cybercrime policy. Whereas the Council of Europe (CoE) sought to codify cybercrime powers into an international convention, much of the EU's policy to fight cybercrime is based on non-legislative measures, including operational cooperation and ad hoc public-private partnerships. Furthermore, important distinctions and restrictions designed to ensure a 'separation of powers' between state agencies concerned with law enforcement (cyber-policing), civil protection (cybersecurity), national security (cyberespionage) and military force (offensive cyber capabilities) are harder to distinguish in the area of cybercrime, at both national and EU level. Section 3 underlines that, within this complex architecture, and with the blurring of the boundaries between those responsible for policing the Internet, for gathering intelligence from it, for conducting cyber-espionage against foreign targets, and for ensuring the safety of critical internet infrastructure, the European Parliament and civil society are largely excluded from policy development, impeding public scrutiny and accountability. This compounds the EP's existing problems in ensuring that fundamental rights and data protection are diligently protected in the area of justice and home affairs. In light of these gaps in oversight and accountability, Section 4 analyses in particular the challenge of jurisdiction, cooperation and fundamental rights safeguards. This section argues that operational challenges in cybercrime law enforcement do not change the obligation of EU institutions and Member States to ensure the safeguarding of EU fundamental rights in any operating framework of internal or transnational cooperation in law enforcement and criminal justice. Cybercrime law enforcement frequently cites the challenge of accessing and transferring data through existing Mutual Legal Assistance agreements. Yet practices taken outside of established legal channels cannot guarantee rights protections and run the risk of raising mistrust in the general public, the private sector and in transatlantic relations. Furthermore, across the spectrum of cybercrime prevention, investigation, and prosecution, the particular geography of the digital environment is said to complicate the traditional territorial foundations of law. Law enforcement bodies make continuous reference to the ways in which traditional legal structures stand in the way of operations. However, an updated legal framework designed to overcome these challenges should foreground fundamental rights concerns, which are essential to ensure due process and a necessary condition for the successful prosecution of cybercriminal offences. In light of these findings, the Study concludes with key recommendations for the European Parliament. In particular, to ensure that the Parliament is not marginalised altogether with respect to the implementation and review of EU cybercrime policies by the exercise of delegated powers, EU agency discretion and non-legislative decision-making bodies, further monitoring of EU council structures, Europol and international cooperation agreements is required (Recommendation 1). Moreover, the EP should ensure that the development of any cooperation/information-sharing framework guarantees the respect of fundamental rights (Recommendation 2). In light of the current discussions on a revised CoE Cybercrime Convention, the European Parliament should, further, ensure that the Convention's obligations are consistent with EU law and fundamental rights protections (Recommendation 3). The EP must also ensure that cybercrime is not used as a justification to undermine new information security protocols and the right to privacy in telecommunications, both of which are fundamental components of the functioning of the Internet (Recommendation 4). Finally, if European law enforcement agencies need to keep pace with technological change, it is imperative that training courses on cybercrime forensics and digital evidence include an applied fundamental rights component (Recommendation 5). Details: Brussels: European Parliament, 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 17, 2015 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2015/536471/IPOL_STU(2015)536471_EN.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2015/536471/IPOL_STU(2015)536471_EN.pdf Shelf Number: 137311 Keywords: CybercrimesCybersecurityInternet CrimesLaw EnforcementPolice Investigations |
Author: European Union Title: Simplification of less serious crime investigation aimed to balance public danger, harm caused by crime and consumption of resources for investigation Summary: The aim of the project is to exchange, summarize and analyse legislation, knowledge, experience and the best practice on simplification of less serious crime investigation in 7 EU Member States and to deliver recommendations for implementation of the best models and practice, thereby providing opportunities to increase effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in the EU Member States. Details: Riga, Latvia: State Police of the Republic of Latvia, 2015. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 9, 2016 at: http://eucpn.org/sites/default/files/content/download/files/46._simplification_of_less_serious_crime_investigation.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://eucpn.org/sites/default/files/content/download/files/46._simplification_of_less_serious_crime_investigation.pdf Shelf Number: 137816 Keywords: Crime Scene Investigations Criminal Investigations Police Investigations |
Author: Pettersen, Lone Charlotte Title: Tracking the Trafficker? A Qualitative Study of the Investigation of Trafficking in Human Beings in Norway Summary: Trafficking in human beings (THB) is a vast global problem where the cynic exploitation of fellow human beings is limited only by the exploiter's creativity and cruelty. This paper looks upon the phenomena of THB from a law enforcement perspective, thus defining and problematizing it as a crime against humanity and a crime against international and national laws. Consequently, understanding the complexity of the crime enables the investigator and prosecutor to better conduct criminal investigations to uncover, prevent and prosecute the crime of THB. Norway is a recipient country, and to some extent also a transit country, which means that the victims of THB in Norway are mostly from foreign countries. However, the numbers on THB are not reliable when it comes to describing the reality of victims that have yet to be identified by Norwegian authorities. Thus, the majority of THB-cases reported, investigated and receiving convictions, are THB for sexual exploitation. Trafficking for other types of exploitation is widely underreported. At the same time, research on the field of trafficking in Norway has focused mainly on sexual exploitation. However, this paper does not distinguish between the different types of exploitation. Rather, it focuses on how the police investigate the phenomena in order to be able to prosecute the traffickers. As such, this paper is based on a qualitative study where police investigators and police prosecutors from 8 different police districts in Norway have been interviewed about their knowledge and experience in investigating cases of THB. The study aims to answer the following approach to the research topic: Tracking the Trafficker? A qualitative study of the investigation of trafficking in human beings in Norway. The research findings suggest that there is a severe lack of competency in THB in general in the Norwegian police and that this affects the outcome of THB-cases in several ways. The police does not initiate THB-cases themselves, rather they are to a large extent recipients of information from others - especially the victim. This leads to a highly victim-oriented approach to the investigation, placing much responsibility on the victim to provide the investigation with sufficient information to identify the trafficker or other important part of the exploitation they have been exposed to. Furthermore, the victim itself is considered a great challenge in the investigation of THB-cases. The findings also indicate that the organisational structure of the police districts, combined with how THB is prioritized with regard to resources and personnel, may have some affect as to how the investigation is conducted in the different police districts. Details: Oslo: Politihogskolen , 2015. 119p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 18, 2016 at: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/297965/master_Pettersen_2015.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2015 Country: Norway URL: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/297965/master_Pettersen_2015.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 139074 Keywords: Human TraffickingPolice InvestigationsSexual Exploitation |
Author: New York (City). Department of Investigation Title: An Investigation of NYPD's Compliance with Rules Governing Investigations of Political Activity Summary: The Department of Investigation's ("DOI") Office of the Inspector General for the New York City Police Department ("OIG-NYPD") has issued a Report detailing the findings of its review of the New York City Police Department's ("NYPD") compliance with the court-mandated rules governing the investigation of political activity. These rules, also known as the Handschu Guidelines, are codified in the NYPD Patrol Guide. In the course of this investigation, OIG-NYPD examined highly confidential intelligence files never before subject to review or available to non-police entities. OIG-NYPD's investigators examined, among other things, whether NYPD's Intelligence Bureau satisfied the established standard for opening investigations, met deadlines for extending investigations, and obtained necessary approvals for the use of human sources, which include confidential informants and undercover officers. The investigation found that the NYPD Intelligence Bureau failed to renew investigations before the authorization expired more than half of the time, resulting in investigations of political activity that continued without the requisite authorization. More than 25% of the extensions reviewed exceeded the required deadline by more than 31 days. Further, requests to use human sources were frequently approved despite failing to document the particularized role of confidential informants and undercover officers, as required. However, OIG-NYPD found that in all cases NYPD met the informational threshold required to open an investigation. Details: New York: New York City Department of Investigation, 2016. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 26, 2016 at: http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/oignypd/downloads/pdf/oig_intel_report_823_final_for_release.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/oignypd/downloads/pdf/oig_intel_report_823_final_for_release.pdf Shelf Number: 140052 Keywords: Police IntelligencePolice InvestigationsPolitics |
Author: Queensland. Crime and Misconduct Commission Title: Vulnerable Victims: Homicide of Older People Summary: This Research and Issues Paper reviews published literature about suspected homicide of older people, to assist in the investigation of these crimes by Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) or police investigators. The paper includes information about victim vulnerabilities, nature of the offences, characteristics and motives of offenders, and investigative and prosecutorial challenges. Although police and CMC investigators are the paper's primary audience, it will also be a useful reference for professionals such as clinicians, ambulance officers or aged care professionals who may encounter older people at risk of becoming homicide victims. Details: Brisbane: The Commission, 2013. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Research and Issues no. 22: Accessed November 12, 2016 at: www.ccc.qld.gov.au Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: www.ccc.qld.gov.au Shelf Number: 131147 Keywords: Elderly Victims Homicides Murders Police InvestigationsViolent Crimes |
Author: Hoyle, Carolyn Title: The Impact of Being Wrongly Accused of Abuse in Occupations of Trust: Victims' Voices Summary: Recent decades have seen an emerging body of research focused on crime victims and their perspectives. In particular, there has been concern that allegations of sexual abuse, particularly non-recent abuse, have not received an appropriate response. Among politicians, criminal justice agencies and charities in the UK, there is a collective sense of remorse that reports of abuse were often not properly investigated and that those who reported it were often not believed. From this has emerged a new determination to correct past and prevent further injustices of this kind. Not surprisingly, there has been a cultural shift towards believing allegations of abuse, and the presumption now is in favour of trusting those who present as victims. It is important that all agencies, particularly the police, are alert to the needs of those who claim to be victims of abuse, but not to the extent of overlooking those who are victims of wrongful allegations. In a society which has made so much progress in addressing the needs of victims and in taking account of their perspective, those who have been smeared by false allegations of grievous crimes sometimes see themselves as the forgotten victims (of official errors if not of their accusers). They feel disregarded, and that they and their partners and children are left to suffer the ignominy alone. This qualitative study of people's experiences of being falsely accused of child/adult abuse in occupational contexts gives a voice to these other victims, by way of a content analysis of first person accounts. Set against the background of a broad social discourse focused on prosecuting child abusers and sex offenders, one which recognises that victims of abuse need great courage to report crimes against them, it may seem perverse to shine a spotlight on the wrongly accused. Some may worry that dwelling on them will drive victims back into the shadows for fear they will not be believed. However, hearing about the experiences of those who are falsely accused does not diminish lessons that can be learnt from victims of abuse. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has invited victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to share their experience with the Inquiry team, and advises that the information provided will feed into the 'Truth Project'. However, the IICSA also intends to hear testimony from those who have been falsely accused to ensure a balance between encouraging the reporting of child sexual abuse and protecting the rights of the accused. We believe the IICSA is likely to hear evidence similar to the data presented below. Details: Oxford, UK: University of Oxford Centre for Criminology, 2017. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 27, 2017 at: https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxlaw/the_impact_of_being_wrongly_accused_of_abuse_hoyle_speechley_burnett_final_26_may.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxlaw/the_impact_of_being_wrongly_accused_of_abuse_hoyle_speechley_burnett_final_26_may.pdf Shelf Number: 146524 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseFalse AccusationsPolice InvestigationsWrongly Accused |
Author: Higginson, Angela Title: Investigating serious violent crime: what works, what doesn't and for what crime types? Summary: Serious violent crime is a persistent and significant criminal justice issue (see Eisner, 2003; Fuller, 2013; Truman, Langton, & Planty, 2013; Wallace et al., 2009). In 2003 and 2008, the Australian Institute of Criminology delivered a clear message: despite the relatively low number of incidents compared to non-violent crime, serious violent crime offences account for a substantial portion of the costs of crime in Australia (Mayhew, 2003; Rollings, 2008). Moreover, a number of scholars have demonstrated a decline in police clearance of serious violent crime over recent decades (Horvath et al., 2001; Litwin & Xu, 2007; Riedel, 2008). Although investigation and responding to serious violent crime are core components of police work, the evidence-base for police investigative techniques for serious violent crime lacks the level of evaluation and synthesis seen for other policing interventions which have been predominantly assessed according to their impact on general crime and disorder. This systematic review aims to redress this imbalance by conducting the first ever systematic review focusing on the effectiveness of techniques that police use to investigate serious violent crime. Our review examines the evidence on police investigative techniques for serious violent crime to determine what works, what doesn't, and for what crime types. Specifically, we systematically evaluate the impact of police investigative techniques on key police outcomes in the context of serious violent crime: offender identification, arrests, elicitation of confessions, convictions and case closure. Details: Sydney: Criminal Research Advisory Council, 2017. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 2, 2017 at: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1718/43-1314-FinalReport.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1718/43-1314-FinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 147966 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationsPolice InvestigationsViolent Crime |
Author: Lancia, Amanda Title: Policing and the Dirty Underbelly: Understanding Narratives of Police Deviance on Social Media Platforms Summary: Policing organizations have been quick to adopt the use of social media as a community policing and investigative tool. However, the user-generated content on social media platforms can pose a risk to police legitimacy, police accountability, and their role as the 'authorized knowers'. This thesis explores how social media problematizes the social problems game and how social media challenges the police as the 'authorized knowers'. Through the analysis of two case studies - #myNYPD campaign and the Walter Scott shooting - it was found that social media users can use social media platforms to construct claims against and challenge police in the social problems game through the circulation of user-generated content. It was discovered that images and videos play a significant role in the social problems game, and the challenging of the police. The authority that the police have with traditional media differs from the relationship they have with social media. This is because social media becomes much more difficult to control, especially with the interpretive flexibility of images and video. It was found that police still engage in counter-claims making activities through traditional media outlets to counteract claims made online, but that social media also provides a new platform for counter-claims making activities. Details: Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University, 2016. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed April 18, 2018 at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2987&context=etd Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2987&context=etd Shelf Number: 149848 Keywords: Police AccountabilityPolice InvestigationsPolice LegitimacyPolice MisconductSocial Media |
Author: Walach, Vaclav Title: Lifecycle of a Hate Crime. Country Report for the Czech Republic Summary: The objective of this research was to determine how hate crimes are investigated and punished in the Czech Republic (CR). This was achieved by analysing the experiences of individual actors in the criminal proceedings for this type of crime. Our corpus of data included the following categories of informants: offenders, victims, defense attorneys, public prosecutors, and judges. Additional sources of data consisted primarily of secondary literature (legislation, by-laws, concept documents, legal analyses, etc.). The project focus suggested a specific approach to the data construction. It is relatively difficult to gain access to the population for each of the categories in the hate crime research corpus. Informants within the justice system (public prosecutors and judges) are small in number and, additionally, are restricted by regulations imposed by superior bodies. In practice, this meant that potential informants could not be contacted directly, but only by submitting a formal request to individual courts and public prosecutors' offices. Access to these people was further complicated by the fact that, in the CR, hate crimes constitute a relatively narrow slice of criminal activity, and particular informants who deal with this activity are difficult to identify in advance (see below). To target these individuals, then, we relied upon help from the institutions representing individual categories of informants. Attorneys who had represented hate crime offenders or their victims in the past were also difficult to gain access to. Because no records are kept of these individuals, we were forced to identify potential informants in advance using our prior experience, or by analyzing court judgments or media content. This already reduced sample size shrank further with the frequent refusal of those contacted to take part in the research for a number of reasons. It was similarly difficult to gain access to offenders and victims of hate crime. Data protection laws, which mandate that personal data concerning offenders and victims be anonymized in judicial records provided to the public, have rendered the population in these two categories invisible. It was therefore necessary to approach these individuals via the prisons and probation institutions responsible for monitoring the offenders, along with organizations focused on helping hate crime victims. Identifying and Contacting Informants Informants were identified and contacted in two phases During the first phase, we contacted the lead organizations for the justice system, legal representation, and the prisons-the Czech Judicial Union (CJU), the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office (SPPO), the Judicial Academy (JA), the Czech Bar Association (CBA) and the General Directorate of the Prison Service (GDPS). We anticipated that they would provide access to experts in the justice system, legal profession, and to offenders. But with the exception of the GDPS, none of these institutions mediated contact with any of the informants officially. Also unsuccessful was an attempt to make mass contact with all lawyers via the CBA. There was no response to requests posted on the CBA's website or in their official magazine, Bulletin Advokacie. For this reason, we embarked upon the second phase of contact and identification, this time primarily employing personal contacts, along with an analysis of court decisions in hate crime cases and a media analysis of cases in which hate crime was mentioned. The task of identifying appropriate informants, however, clearly differed based upon the type of actor being contacted. Details: Prague: in IUSTITIA, o.p.s., 2017. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed may 2, 2018 at: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Life-Cycle-of-a-Hate-Crime-Country-Report-for-Czech-Republic-English.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Czech Republic URL: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Life-Cycle-of-a-Hate-Crime-Country-Report-for-Czech-Republic-English.pdf Shelf Number: 149974 Keywords: Bias-Motivated Crime Criminal InvestigationDiscrimination Hate Crimes Police InvestigationsPrejudice |
Author: Leonaite, Erika Title: Inside Police Custody 2. Suspects' Procedural Rights in Lithuania Summary: Data obtained by police during the first questioning of the suspect is often of vital importance for the case. Thus, it is important to ensure that during the questioning the main procedural rights of suspects - right to interpretation, right to information, right to effective defence - are respected. These procedural rights are enshrined both in European Union directives and in Lithuanian law, regulating criminal procedure. In order to find out how procedural rights operate in day-to-day practice of police investigators, researchers from the Human Rights Monitoring Institute conducted observation-based research. Researchers observed questionings of arrested suspects and conducted qualitative interviews with police investigators and defence lawyers. This research, based on data from real-life questionings, enabled us to identify the main areas of concern, revealing gaps between legal regulation and daily practice of police investigators. At the same time, examples of good practices, applied by some investigators and demonstrating professional attitude towards procedural standards, were observed as well. This research conducted in Lithuania is part of a wider-scale regional project, carried out in eight other EU countries - Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Romania, and Spain. Details: Vilnius, Lithuania: Human Rights Monitoring Institute (HRMI), 2018. 115p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2019 at: https://hrmi.lt/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/National_report_Lithuania_2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Lithuania URL: https://hrmi.lt/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/National_report_Lithuania_2018.pdf Shelf Number: 155663 Keywords: Accused PersonsCriminal ProcedurePolice CustodyPolice InvestigationsPolice ProceduresProcedural RightsSuspects Rights |
Author: Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs Title: Inadequate Governance of the VA Police Program at Medical Facilities Summary: The Office of Inspector General (OIG) audited the VA security and law enforcement program (police program) to determine whether there was an effective governance structure for reasonably assuring that the programs objectives were being met. These objectives include the approximately 4,000 police officer workforce providing security for patients, visitors, and employees at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical facilities. The OIG also assessed whether VA police met requirements for staffing size and qualifications, and had an adequate inspection program to ensure compliance with policies and procedures. The OIG found that VA did not have adequate governance over its police program to maintain effective management and oversight. The governance problems stemmed from confusion about police program roles and authority as well as the lack of a coordinated or centralized governance structure. According to VA policy, VHA leaders maintain primary responsibility for ensuring police program requirements are achieved. However, the Office of Security and Law Enforcement (OS&LE), a VA staff office that falls outside of VHA, has limited program oversight responsibilities such as developing and issuing national policies and inspecting police operations at VHA facilities. OS&LE does not have program authority to manage VA police operations at local medical facilities. The OIG made recommendations for VA to (1) clarify program responsibilities between VHA and the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness (under which OS&LE operates) and evaluate the need for a centralized management entity; (2) ensure facility-appropriate police staffing models are implemented; (3) have facilities use available strategies to address police staffing challenges; (4) assess staffing levels for the OS&LE police inspection program and provide resources for timely inspections of police units; and (5) make certain that procedures are developed for conducting VA police investigations of medical facility leaders. Details: Washington, DC: Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs, 2018. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2019 at: https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-17-01007-01.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://oversight.gov/report/va/inadequate-governance-va-police-program-medical-facilities Shelf Number: 156020 Keywords: Law EnforcementOffice of Inspector GeneralOffice of Security and Law EnforcementPolice InvestigationsPolice ProgramPolice StaffingPolice Units |