31 Jan • Who will you contact

Unit I Case Study

The case you are going to discuss is one that actually happened in the United States. The vital information has been changed or deleted to protect the identity of the agency, former law enforcement members, and locations. The case will soon be heard in state supreme court.

The local police narcotics division received intelligence from a criminal informant that a hydroponic supply shop in the area was growing marijuana and selling it in the shop during store hours and after hours. Narcotics detectives placed a camera for surveillance outside the shop’s location. They followed one patron to his private residence. The narcotics detectives entered the patrons’ property several times over the course of two weeks by climbing a fence to get a clear view of the property and the inside of the house. They found several marijuana plants, some growing equipment, and paraphernalia. Upon deciding that they had enough evidence to raid and make an arrest, the officers seized a DVD from a security camera that showed them climbing a fence to obtain access to the property. The sergeant in charge of the investigation ordered the DVD destroyed.

Shortly after this incident, the same narcotics officers disguised themselves as power company employees and municipal water workers to obtain records from both utilities to prove that a grow-house operation existed at a residence within their jurisdiction. They conducted surveillance of the residence in these uniforms as well as entered an office of the power company, disguised as employees, to obtain official records. Their justification for doing this was that they could smell a strong odor of marijuana from the residence adjacent to the residence in question as well as when they passed the residence on the sidewalk. The narcotics officers utilized the camera system they placed across from the hydroponic shop to obtain license plates and addresses of people that stopped at the store. The narcotics officers utilized a tactic known as knock and talk, where they approached homes without a search warrant 84 times, knocked on the door, and talked to the residents. They stated that they believed the residents were growing marijuana and requested to search their homes. During those 84 times, they found marijuana 34 times but found nothing the other times. In several cases, they found hydroponic vegetables and fruit growing in the backyards and inside the apartments.

This unit consisted of a sergeant, corporal, and two detectives. They later resigned to avoid internal affairs investigations. A defense attorney later determined that in the first case they illegally jumped/climbed the fence because there was no search warrant. They were armed with their agency issued firearms in both incidents. The case is scheduled to be heard in the state supreme court next year.

Write a two- to three-page report explaining what information in Chapter 2 of the textbook applies to this situation. Identify all legal concepts you feel need addressing.

Ensure you answer the following questions in your report:

• How does having a search warrant or not having a search warrant affect the outcome of this case?

• Does the added knowledge of the fact that the officers were carrying firearms onto private property with or without a search warrant have bearing on the case?

• When you consider that the narcotics officers entered a business dressed as employees, do you see this as a legal issue?

Your paper must be written in APA style. If you utilize additional sources such as the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, or agency policy, these references must be cited correctly in a reference page that is not included in the total page count.

Unit II Assessment

Question 1

There are several different types of physical evidence. Which type of physical evidence do you find to be the most interesting? Why? You are not permitted to discuss bloodstain interpretation or ballistics in this question.

Your response should be at least 200 words in length.

Question 2

Discuss the concept of proper organization of the crime scene investigation. In your explanation, describe the different crime scene supplies and equipment that are most commonly used.

Your response should be at least 200 words in length.

Unit III Assessment

Question 1

Discuss the role of the law enforcement investigator as a witness. Within your discussion, include the ways to prepare for the witness stand and how law enforcement can present themselves on the stand.

Your response should be at least 200 words in length.

Unit III Essay

Discuss the importance of the landmark case Miranda v. Arizona. Now pick one of the following cases: Berghuis v. Thompkins, Maryland v. Shatzer, McNabb v. United States, or Minnick v. Mississippi, and discuss its significance to interviewing and interrogation. Is there a relationship between the case that you chose and Miranda v. Arizona? If there is, discuss that relationship as it relates to interview and interrogation.

Your response should be at least 300 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

Unit IV Research Report

Access the CSU Online Library to find research information on homicide and death investigations.

You may choose among the following topics:

• women that kill,

• children (defined as under 21) that kill,

• spree killing, or

• school shootings.

You are required to discuss two cases that are based on the topic you have chosen to research. You must have a minimum of four references. If you are utilizing a case you were personally involved in as a law enforcement officer or family member, then provide the documentation to the reference in the case.

Your research paper must be a minimum of three pages in length, not including your title and reference pages. Please use proper APA formatting for your citations and references.

Unit V PowerPoint Presentation

Prevention of Residential Burglary

You are an officer assigned to the burglary unit. Your chain of command has requested that you speak to a home owners association (HOA) in reference to 20 burglaries that have occurred in a particular neighborhood during the past six months. There is no neighborhood watch program in place, and the community has a population that consists of all age demographics, from families with small children to elderly retirees. The burglaries have no specific method of entry, but 17 of the 20 burglaries have occurred during the day. Two daytime burglaries have occurred while elderly people were home and asleep. The only description available for these burglaries was that there was possibly more than one suspect. Your topic will be prevention of residential burglary.

Create a PowerPoint presentation that is a minimum of 12 slides. You will need to include prevention strategies and safety tips for residents that are at home as well as for those traveling and leaving their home on vacations or for the holidays.

You will also need to provide safety and prevention strategies for the elderly residents of the community if you feel it is necessary. You can include graphics and photos, but limit the amount since your main point is the content.

You are required to submit a full speech detailing your presentation in standard paragraph format in the notes section of your PowerPoint slides. You are also required to provide a reference slide at the end of your presentation. You are required to have a minimum of three resources for this project. You may use your textbook as a resource. If you utilize a department or agency program, you are required to list it in the reference slide. You are also required to use an equal distribution of your resources for this assignment. APA style is to be applied in this project as well. Please consult the CSU Citation Guide for the proper guidelines for PowerPoint presentations.

Unit VI Assessment

Question 1

There are several crimes against children. Choose one of three topics to discuss:

behavioral characteristics of situational and preferential child molesters,

shaken baby syndrome, or

four categories of school violence.

Your response should be at least 300 words in length.

Question 2

Discuss the difference between a nursing home and an assisted-living facility as it relates to an investigation. Then discuss interviewing a victim of elderly abuse.

Your response should be at least 300 words in length.

Unit VII Assessment

Question 1

Discuss the various methods that law enforcement use to obtain information in drug investigations.

Your response should be at least 200 words in length.

Question 2

Define and discuss the concept of warrantless searches and proper evidence handling. What are the reasons proper evidence handling is important in drug investigations?

Your response should be at least 200 words in length.

Question 3

Define the difference between the terms trafficking and smuggling. Discuss the difference between these terms as they relate to human trafficking investigations. What are U-visas and T-visas, and what is the role of non-governmental organizations (NGO) in helping human-trafficking victims?

Your response should be at least 500 words in length.

Unit VIII Essay

Click on the following scenario to read about this case.

Your assignment is to write a paper explaining how you would investigate this crime. You will answer the following questions:

• What questions would you ask of Mr. Smith during this interview?

• What documentation would you collect as evidence in this case?

• When would you seek to interview Mr. Dume in relationship to this investigation?

• Would you interview other people in relationship to this case?

• Who will you contact to assist in the investigation?

• When would you elect to interview Mr. Dume, and what possible charges would you bring against him?

• How would you help the victim of the crime?

Finally, discuss the psychological impact of being a victim of this crime? Why are people reluctant to report this type of victimization?

Your paper should be a minimum of three full pages in length, utilizing proper APA style. You are not allowed to number your responses to coincide with the directions. Standard paragraph format is required for this assignment.

You may use your textbook as a source; however, you are required to have two (2) additional sources in addition to your textbook. Your resources must be evenly distributed in the paper. If you use policies or resources from a law enforcement agency that you work for, the information must be documented as a resource. The potential exists that you may have several different types of references, and you are required to have them documented and cited using proper APA style in this assignment.