Criminal Investigation 2200-1CWPK123-ERA
This course covers the general and specific issues related to the subject of criminal investigation. It is designed to provide students with the understanding of the intersection between forensics and law.
During the classes, various approaches to conducting investigations are discussed, mainly in the most serious cases against life and health. Each time specific solutions that are adopted in different countries will be analyzed. Each solution is presented through the prism of the effects related to its use - also for court proceedings.
The main aim of the course is to get general understanding in the methods of investigative work of different law enforcement agencies. Especially in the context of their effectiveness and legality. In addition, students gain knowledge about individual procedural steps, analyze their usefulness in investigative and judicial practice and discuss the evidential value of the evidence obtained.
During the semester, along with the discussions and reviewing real case studies, students will conduct their own partly mock investigation by testing the solutions discussed during classes.
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student:
Knowledge
1. Knows both the basic and detailed concepts of various fields of criminal investigative tactics
2. Understands the importance of investigative work for the judiciary.
3. Gets acquainted with the selected procedural steps.
Skills:
1. Is able to assess the accuracy and legality of chosen investigative activities.
2. Can make a preliminary analysis of the correctness of investigative activities.
3. Can analyze the usefulness of individual procedural steps in investigative and judicial practice.
4. Is able to assess the value of the evidence obtained.
Assessment criteria
Assessment is based on the active presence. Reading assignments are delivered to students for every class and they are mandatory.
At the end of the course students are taking a written test with questions covering the class topics.
Bibliography
Selected literature
Newburn, T., Williamson, T., & Wright, A. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of criminal investigation. Routledge.
D.K.Rosmo (red.), Criminal Investigative Failures, CRC Press, 2009;
K. M. Hess, C. H. Orthmann, H. L. Cho, Criminal Investigation, Delmar Cengage Learning, 2016;
J. Osterburg, R. H. Ward, Criminal Investigation. A Method for Reconstructing the Past, Anderson, 2013.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: