Learning Unit 1:

Criminal Investigation: An Overview

Unit Overview:

This unit of study identifies the many disciplines in a criminal investigation and the process of discovering, collecting, preparing, identifying, and presenting evidence to determine what happened and who is responsible. Students learn crime scene processing may seem deceptively simple. Students learn investigative terminology and disciplines, and how mistakes can drastically affect an entire case.

After the successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Describe what criminal investigation is
Define the major goals of criminal investigation
Explain the basic functions investigators perform

In order to achieve the objectives shared above, please complete the following assignments:

Access and study the Chapter 1 PowerPoint lecture
Participate in the Introduction and Learning Unit 1 Discussion Board The topic solicited for this week’s thread is the CSI effect. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Las Vegas, Miami, New York) television programs on CBS have generated an increase in the popularity of forensic science and, subsequently, students who want to obtain jobs as CSIs. However, many students have unrealistic expectations about what this type of job entails.
Read the information on the National Public Radio link, “Is the ‘CSI Effect’ Influencing Courtrooms?” by Ann Rath, PBS Frontline. This article discusses the effect of the television series CSI and others like it on real-world courtroom decisions. Before Wednesday, at 11:59 pm, click on the Learning Unit 1 Discussion Board link to open up the discussion thread and discuss the following question(s): Is the CSI effect real? Do shows like CSI make it harder to get convictions? Why or why not? You are required to respond to this thread with a 200-word essay. Your posting must be at least 200 words.
Before Sunday, at 11:59 pm, post a response to at least one other student’s essay. Your response on the Discussion Board must directly relate to the problem or question posed. Simply typing “I agree” or “I disagree” is not an adequate response. Responses must be at least seven sentences in length to receive full credit.