SEC /430 Principles of Investigation / University of Phoenix

Week 1 Individual Assignment: Bus Radio Theft Investigation Case

·         Resource: University of Phoenix Materials:Bus Radio Case Facts

·         Review the University of Phoenix Materials:Bus Radio Case Facts located in the Week One Assessment section of your student website.

·         Complete the Web Link  Simulation: Bus Radio Theft Investigation

·         Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper, in which you answer the following questions from the point of view of the investigator:

o   What documents, interviews, direct observations, and additional tactics would you use to conduct the investigation?

o   What technological tools might be helpful to conduct the investigation?

o   Where might you find information?

o   What questions would you ask and of whom?

o   What type of documentation would you create for the file?

·         Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Week 3 Evidence Tracking

·         Resource: University of Phoenix Material: Evidence-Tracking Instructions

·         Follow the instructions in the University of Phoenix Material: Evidence-Tracking Instructions, which are located in the Week Three Assessment section of the student website, to gain access to the DNA Initiative website (http://dna.gov/training/letraining). The website provides access to several different crime scenes and scenarios that are used for this assignment.

·         Explore the chosen scenario from the University of Phoenix Material: Evidence-Tracking Instructions to learn enough information to complete the assignment.

·         Write a 1,400- to 1750-word paper in which forensic and other evidence found at the selected crime scene is tracked from collection through presentation. Include the following:

a.    Brief description of the chosen scenario

b.    Two different types of collected evidence

c.    Sources of the evidence

d.    Proper collection procedures

e.    Instructions on how to record the evidence

f.     Chain of evidence

g.    Processing protocols

h.    Interpretation methods

i.      Preservation of evidence

j.      Proper presentation methods for different types of evidence

k.    Consequences of mishandling evidence

·         Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Week 4 Employment Application and Background-Check Critique

·         Obtain an employment application and background-check policies and procedures from your employer or a company with which you are familiar.

·         Write a 1,750- to 2,100-word paper in which you identify the strengths and weaknesses of a company’s employment application and background-check policies and procedures.

a.    Answer the following questions regarding the employment application:

                                  i.    Does the application provide sufficient information to conduct a background investigation?

                                ii.    What waivers does the application contain?

                               iii.    Is the same application used for all positions?

                               iv.    What revisions would you make to the application?

b.    Answer the following questions regarding the organization’s background-check policies and procedures:

                                  i.    What checks are conducted?

                                ii.    What is the policy on drug testing?

                               iii.    Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)?

                               iv.    Is a credit check standard?

                                v.    Do background checks include interviewing previous and current neighbors?

                               vi.    Are references contacted and interviewed?

                              vii.    Is the background check procedure in place adequate?

                            viii.    What are strengths and weaknesses?

                               ix.    Do you have recommendations to enhance the process?

·         Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Week 4 Review the Week Four objectives and discuss insights and questions you may have.

·         Submit the Team Assignments for New Security Employee Guide by Day 4, which is a detailed outline (each team member should give a detailed outline of their assigned section(s)) of the Week 5 Assignment.  The team will compile the individual outline into one correctly formatted team outline to submit.  Please do not forget to include a Reference Page!

·         Continue working on the New Security Employee Guide assignment, due in Week Five

Week 5 New Security Employee Guide

·         Create a 1,750- to 2,100-word document titled the New Security Employee Guide:

a.    You manage a security team that is responsible for protecting a centralized warehouse that distributes electronic equipment to a chain of electronics stores. You have been tasked with creating a guide for new security employees. You must also conduct a training session on the guide using a Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® presentation.

b.    Cover the following topics in the employee guide:

                                  i.    Investigative principles

                                ii.    Criminal investigations

                               iii.    Evidence acquisition and management

                               iv.    Employment-related investigations

                                v.    Administrative and personnel investigations

·         Prepare a 10- to 15-slide Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® presentation covering the major points of the employee guide.

·         Format your document according to facilitator instructions.

Discussions

Week 1 DQ 1

What is the purpose of an investigation, and why is the process important? Provide examples of what might happen when the process is not followed.  

Week 1 DQ 2

How does technology aid surveillance and undercover work? How might technology hinder it?How might technology make it possible to falsify evidence or otherwise hide the truth? Explain.

Week 2 DQ 1

Why is it important to prove mens rea in a crime? Which do you feel is more persuasive as support for establishing mens rea, witness testimony or physical evidence? Explain why by providing an example for each option and how a jury might perceive it in court.

Week 2 DQ 2

How have technological advancements changed the criminal justice system and investigation?  What types of technological advancements can you envision for the future?

Week 3 DQ 1

In your opinion, are rules of evidence more focused on protecting the rights of the public or protecting the rights of the accused individual? Provide your rationale.

Week 3 DQ 2

How might law enforcement officials process crime scenes without technological advancements? What is your opinion of technology’s place in crime-scene processing? What are some new technologies? Do you feel there is too much reliance on technology? Why, or why not? Provide examples.

Week 4 DQ 1

Why do employers obtain a signed waiver from an applicant regarding credit and background checks? What is the significance of the Fair Credit Reporting Act waiver? Is a credit check more important than a background check? Explain.

Week 4 DQ 2

Are there situations where it might be appropriate to use an outside agency to conduct a background investigation? Why, or why not? Provide at least two examples. At what point do you think a background check is an invasion of privacy?

Week 5 DQ 1

What conditions do you think warrant wiretapping of, or eavesdropping on, personnel communications? What are your ethical concerns with either of these techniques? How might they affect personnel investigations?

Week 5 DQ 2

What various information sources are acquired through internal investigation communication? Are internal sources more reliable than other sources? Why, or why not?  List examples of at least three different source types.