Introduction to Criminal Investigation: Processes, Practices and Thinking (Free Online Course With Certificate)
Alison Free Online Learning
Key Information
Campus location
Online
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning
Duration
1 - 3 hour
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* free online course
Scholarships
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Introduction
This course introduces you to the processes, practices and principles that drive criminal investigations. Such investigations are imprecise undertakings that combine unpredictable, dynamic events with incomplete information to guide the process. As there are no precise methodologies, this course lays out the important concepts, laws and processes typically utilized in criminal investigations to train you to adapt them to your own context.
This is a free online course with a certificate. Interested? Simply click the button and start today.
This Free Online Course Includes:
- 1.5-3 Hours of Learning
- CPD Accreditation
- Final Assessment
Alison Certificates
All Alison courses are free to enrol, study and complete. To successfully complete this Certificate course and become an Alison Graduate, you need to achieve 80% or higher in each course assessment. Once you have completed this Certificate course, you have the option to acquire an official Diploma, which is a great way to share your achievement with the world.
Your Alison Certificate is:
- Ideal for sharing with potential employers
- Include it in your CV, professional social media profiles, and job applications.
- An indication of your commitment to continuously learn, upskill & achieve high results.
- An incentive for you to continue empowering yourself through lifelong learning.
Alison offers 3 types of Diplomas for completed Diploma courses:
- Digital Certificate: a downloadable Certificate in PDF format immediately available to you when you complete your purchase.
- Certificate: a physical version of your officially branded and security-marked Certificate, posted to you with free shipping.
- Framed Certificate: a physical version of your officially branded and security-marked Certificate in a stylish frame, posted to you with free shipping.
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
This course takes you through the criminal investigative steps that are essential to maintain law and order and provide justice to the victims of crimes. As there is no precise and universal crime-solving methodology, this course teaches you the important concepts, legal rules and investigative processes that must be respected and adopted in every investigation.
We begin by introducing you to criminal investigation procedures as a thought process as we provide a brief history of criminal investigations. We then explain how to categorize evidence and break down the rules pertaining to its search and seizure to explain why some of it would be inadmissible in court. The course then delves into the investigation process and related issues, including ‘event classification’, the rules of engagement, the three most common investigation errors and the ‘STAIR’ tool commonly used to solve crimes.
The course shows you how to manage various types of witnesses as you measure their competence to testify by interviewing them. We explain how to manage a crime scene by taking notes and protecting its integrity. We go through the process of interviewing, questioning and interrogating suspects and describe how each of those processes is subtly different from the others. Finally, we explore the forensic sciences used in criminal investigations to analyze crime scenes and interpret evidence. This course suits anyone who is interested in the criminology or who wants to pursue a career in law enforcement or criminal justice.
Module 1
Introduction to Criminal Investigations
This module introduces you to criminal investigations, giving you an understanding of the fundamentals in investigations including; Criminal investigation as a thinking process, The need to think through the process, Towards modern-day investigation, The path to becoming an investigator and Understanding the investigative mind.
Module 2
Some Important Basic Concepts
The purpose of this module is to introduce some of the basic legal parameters and concepts of criminal justice within which the criminal investigation process takes place.
Module 3
What You Need To Know About Evidence
In this module, you will learn about some of the key definitions and protocols that an investigator should understand to carry out the investigative process, with regard to evidence.
Module 4
The Process of Investigation
In this module, you will learn about the processes of an investigation and issues that relate to the processes of an investigation.
Module 5
Strategic Investigative Response
In this module, you will learn about the operational processes of investigations, such as; from a tactical investigative response to a strategic investigative response, the three big investigation errors, and describe an investigation process within the justice system
Module 6
Applying the Investigative Tools
This module will take you through some investigative STAIR scenarios to demonstrate the required investigative awareness required to transition from the tactical investigative response to the strategic investigative response.
Module 7
Witness Management
This module discusses the many rules of evidence, definitions, and protocols that have been developed to govern the way witnesses may testify in court.
Module 8
Crime Scene Management
From this module, you will learn the task processes and protocols for several important issues in crime scene management. These include: Note taking, Securing a crime scene, Evidence management and Scaling the investigation to the event
Module 9
Interviewing, Questioning, and Interrogation
This module examines the interviewing, questioning, and interrogation of suspects as information-gathering techniques police use to aid them in investigations.
Module 10
Forensic Sciences
This module examines various forensic sciences and the application of forensic sciences as practical tools to assist police in conducting investigations.
Module 11
Course assessment
Program Outcome
What You Will Learn In This Free Course
- Appreciate the importance of thinking through the process of a criminal investigation
- Identify the traits common to good investigators
- Define the ‘burden of proof’, the idea of ‘reasonable doubt’ and ‘reasonable grounds’
- Identify the role of ‘Actus Reus’ and ‘Mens Rea’ in criminal investigations
- Categorize the various types of evidence
- Explain how to classify a criminal event as ‘active’ or ‘inactive’
- Recognize the different types of witness
- Break down how to maintain the integrity of crime scenes
- Outline the proper handling and management of evidence
- Compare the processes of interviewing, questioning and interrogating suspects
- Discuss the forensic sciences essential to modern criminal investigations
Complete This CPD Accredited Course & Get Your Certificate!
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Career Opportunities
Careers related to this course:
- Crime Scene Investigator
- Criminal Profiler
- Forensic Scientist
- Forensic Psychologist
- Private Investigator
- Forensic Photographer