The National Criminal Justice Reference System, provides the Private Investigator with tons of useful pdfs. and many other resources.
Here is the Library resource link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/AlphaList.aspx
Main link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/
Favorite Quotes
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Eyewitness Police Lineups called into question
Here is an excerpt from the Iowa State study...
Most line-ups are overseen by the case’s investigating officer, who knows the suspect’s
identity. For scientists, this is a major error: even something as seemingly objective as a
clinical trial can be affected if the nurse who administers the injection knows whether the
syringe contains a drug or a placebo. It is all but impossible for an experimenter — or an
investigating officer — to avoid giving away the‘right’ answer through body language, tone of
voice or other such unconscious hints. “I have argued for years that the more important
reform is for line-ups to be conducted doubleblind,” says Gary Wells, a psychologist at
Iowa State University in Ames and a memberof Reno’s original working party.
Witnesses should also be told that the perpetrator may not be in the line-up so that they do not feel obliged to identify someone. In every one of the DNA exonerations that involved mistaken
identity, says Wells, the witness had picked the suspect: “It’s just that the suspect was innocent.” Although the real perpetrator was not in the line-up, the witness somehow ended up picking the person the detective had in mind.
Complete article: http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/FACULTY/gwells/Nature_article_May_2008.pdf
Most line-ups are overseen by the case’s investigating officer, who knows the suspect’s
identity. For scientists, this is a major error: even something as seemingly objective as a
clinical trial can be affected if the nurse who administers the injection knows whether the
syringe contains a drug or a placebo. It is all but impossible for an experimenter — or an
investigating officer — to avoid giving away the‘right’ answer through body language, tone of
voice or other such unconscious hints. “I have argued for years that the more important
reform is for line-ups to be conducted doubleblind,” says Gary Wells, a psychologist at
Iowa State University in Ames and a memberof Reno’s original working party.
Witnesses should also be told that the perpetrator may not be in the line-up so that they do not feel obliged to identify someone. In every one of the DNA exonerations that involved mistaken
identity, says Wells, the witness had picked the suspect: “It’s just that the suspect was innocent.” Although the real perpetrator was not in the line-up, the witness somehow ended up picking the person the detective had in mind.
Complete article: http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/FACULTY/gwells/Nature_article_May_2008.pdf
Friday, September 26, 2008
Personal information at risk in NH, how many other states have similar practices?
An excerpt from the Union Leader in NH...
No duty to withhold Information in NH
"Each individual police station and prosecutor's office is responsible for creating its own policies regarding what information is redacted, or removed, before it is shared. Thomas said at this time the Derry Police Department does not have a written policy about what information is redacted from records obtained during investigations.
Lawyers for criminal defendants have no duty to withhold victim information from their clients, according to public defender Joseph Prieto, whose office is in Stratham.
Prieto represents Martel. He said a client is entitled to a copy of their file. Prieto always sends a copy of whatever he receives from the prosecution directly to the defendant in the mail, he said.
Although he could not discuss the particulars of Martel's case, Prieto said sending the information to Martel without blacking out Social Security numbers is standard practice.
Farley said he signed a release form while in the hospital, authorizing medical information to be accessed. He did not realize this meant a person charged with crimes against him could be sent a copy of his Social Security number, his father's Social Security number and sensitive materials about his medical health, he said."
Title of article, "Personal data mailed to criminals"
By KIMBERLEY PIETZ, Union Leader Correspondent
9/26/08
For the full article: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Personal+data+mailed+to+criminals%3f&articleId=10a725e2-a599-49b6-bdef-fbc4adc6f7b7
No duty to withhold Information in NH
"Each individual police station and prosecutor's office is responsible for creating its own policies regarding what information is redacted, or removed, before it is shared. Thomas said at this time the Derry Police Department does not have a written policy about what information is redacted from records obtained during investigations.
Lawyers for criminal defendants have no duty to withhold victim information from their clients, according to public defender Joseph Prieto, whose office is in Stratham.
Prieto represents Martel. He said a client is entitled to a copy of their file. Prieto always sends a copy of whatever he receives from the prosecution directly to the defendant in the mail, he said.
Although he could not discuss the particulars of Martel's case, Prieto said sending the information to Martel without blacking out Social Security numbers is standard practice.
Farley said he signed a release form while in the hospital, authorizing medical information to be accessed. He did not realize this meant a person charged with crimes against him could be sent a copy of his Social Security number, his father's Social Security number and sensitive materials about his medical health, he said."
Title of article, "Personal data mailed to criminals"
By KIMBERLEY PIETZ, Union Leader Correspondent
9/26/08
For the full article: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Personal+data+mailed+to+criminals%3f&articleId=10a725e2-a599-49b6-bdef-fbc4adc6f7b7
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Private Investigators can benefit from research on setting up a website/blog
"While testing our participants' eye movements across several news homepage designs, Eyetrack III researchers noticed a common pattern: The eyes most often fixated first in the upper left of the page, then hovered in that area before going left to right. Only after perusing the top portion of the page for some time did their eyes explore further down the page.
Depending on page layout, of course, this pattern can vary. The image above is a simplistic representation of the most common eye-movement pattern we noticed across multiple homepage designs. (In other words, don't take what you see above too seriously.)
Now also consider another Eyetrack observation: Dominant headlines most often draw the eye first upon entering the page -- especially when they are in the upper left, and most often (but not always) when in the upper right. Photographs, contrary to what you might expect (and contrary to findings of 1990 Poynter eyetracking research on print newspapers), aren't typically the entry point to a homepage. Text rules on the PC screen -- both in order viewed and in overall time spent looking at it.
A quick review of 25 large news websites -- here's a list of them -- reveals that 20 of them place the dominant homepage image in the upper left. (Most news sites have a consistent page design from day to day; they don't often vary the layout as a print newspaper would.)"
For more information:
http://www.poynterextra.org/eyetrack2004/main.htm
http://www.virtualhosting.com/blog/2007/scientific-web-design-23-actionable-lessons-from-eye-tracking-studies/
http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000514.html
Depending on page layout, of course, this pattern can vary. The image above is a simplistic representation of the most common eye-movement pattern we noticed across multiple homepage designs. (In other words, don't take what you see above too seriously.)
Now also consider another Eyetrack observation: Dominant headlines most often draw the eye first upon entering the page -- especially when they are in the upper left, and most often (but not always) when in the upper right. Photographs, contrary to what you might expect (and contrary to findings of 1990 Poynter eyetracking research on print newspapers), aren't typically the entry point to a homepage. Text rules on the PC screen -- both in order viewed and in overall time spent looking at it.
A quick review of 25 large news websites -- here's a list of them -- reveals that 20 of them place the dominant homepage image in the upper left. (Most news sites have a consistent page design from day to day; they don't often vary the layout as a print newspaper would.)"
For more information:
http://www.poynterextra.org/eyetrack2004/main.htm
http://www.virtualhosting.com/blog/2007/scientific-web-design-23-actionable-lessons-from-eye-tracking-studies/
http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000514.html
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Police Chief Darrel Stephens, discusses eyewitness testimony reforms
Innocence Project:
Last year North Carolina adopted one of the most comprehensive criminal justice reform packages in the nation, which included substantially improving eyewitness identification procedures. How did you help push that legislation through?
Chief Darrel Stephens:
I was on the Innocence Commission that was first started by Supreme Court Justice I. Beverly Lake, and very quickly we focused onlineups – both photo lineups and physical lineups – because so many wrongful convictions involve eyewitness misidentification.
Innocence Project: We know that these reforms don’t happen overnight. How did this evolve in North Carolina?
Chief Darrel Stephens: About two or three years ago, the recommendations for photo lineups were incorporated into the statewide, entry-level basic training for police officers. That was a pretty important first step. It wasn’t required that police departments adopt those procedures, but it was incorporated into the training. In the spring of 2006our department did adopt the reforms, and last year the new procedures became mandatory statewide.
For the complete interview... http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/1585.php
Related links...http://www.innocenceproject.org/docs/Eyewitness_Testimony_Ann_Rev.pdf
http://www.innocenceproject.org/understand/Eyewitness-Misidentification.php
http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/165.php
Last year North Carolina adopted one of the most comprehensive criminal justice reform packages in the nation, which included substantially improving eyewitness identification procedures. How did you help push that legislation through?
Chief Darrel Stephens:
I was on the Innocence Commission that was first started by Supreme Court Justice I. Beverly Lake, and very quickly we focused onlineups – both photo lineups and physical lineups – because so many wrongful convictions involve eyewitness misidentification.
Innocence Project: We know that these reforms don’t happen overnight. How did this evolve in North Carolina?
Chief Darrel Stephens: About two or three years ago, the recommendations for photo lineups were incorporated into the statewide, entry-level basic training for police officers. That was a pretty important first step. It wasn’t required that police departments adopt those procedures, but it was incorporated into the training. In the spring of 2006our department did adopt the reforms, and last year the new procedures became mandatory statewide.
For the complete interview... http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/1585.php
Related links...http://www.innocenceproject.org/docs/Eyewitness_Testimony_Ann_Rev.pdf
http://www.innocenceproject.org/understand/Eyewitness-Misidentification.php
http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/165.php
Eyewitness evidence pdf. from 2004 for suffolk county, (Boston,MA)
Although this is a dated PDF. it will aid the investigator in looking for the proper questions concerning eyewitness accounts in MA. The Innocence Project is a useful tool for the Investigator.
Boston, MA link...
http://www.innocenceproject.org/docs/Suffolk_eyewitness.pdf
The Innocence Project link...
http://www.innocenceproject.org/
Boston, MA link...
http://www.innocenceproject.org/docs/Suffolk_eyewitness.pdf
The Innocence Project link...
http://www.innocenceproject.org/
U.S. Gov't. occupational handbook for Private Investigators
Excerpt from the Government website..."Private detectives and investigators assist individuals, businesses, and attorneys by finding and analyzing information. They connect small clues to solve mysteries or to uncover facts about legal, financial, or personal matters. Private detectives and investigators offer many services, including executive, corporate, and celebrity protection; pre-employment verification; and individual background profiles. Some investigate computer crimes, such as identity theft, harassing e-mails, and illegal downloading of copyrighted material. They also provide assistance in criminal and civil liability cases, insurance claims and fraud, child custody and protection cases, missing persons cases, and premarital screening. They are sometimes hired to investigate individuals to prove or disprove infidelity."
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos157.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos157.htm
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Numerous Private Investigator YouTube videos
YouTube provides some useful and humorous Private Investigator videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoIBaAOW16U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoIBaAOW16U
Crime Scene Investigators website, provides a checklist on what should be done at a crime scene.
"The purpose of crime scene investigation is to help establish what happened (crime scene reconstruction) and to identify the responsible person. This is done by carefully documenting the conditions at a crime scene and recognizing all relevant physical evidence. The ability to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is oftentimes critical to both solving and prosecuting violent crimes. It is no exaggeration to say that in the majority of cases, the law enforcement officer who protects and searches a crime scene plays a critical role in determining whether physical evidence will be used in solving or prosecuting violent crimes."
Source: http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/csi-response.html
Source: http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/csi-response.html
Criminal Defense Investigators will find this website to have tons of useful links.
For the criminal defense investigator who needs resources, this website has all the links we could hope for.
http://forensic.to/forensic.html
http://forensic.to/forensic.html
3D Crime Scene.com has lots of useful information for the Private Investigator
3D crimescene gives the Private Investigator another tool to aid in crime scene investigations.
http://3dcrimescene.com/
http://3dcrimescene.com/
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Pursuit Magazine's PI, September Issue is now available
The September issue of Pursuit Magazine has been posted and is available right now at...
http://www.pursuitmag.com/
http://www.pursuitmag.com/
Thursday, September 11, 2008
DUI defense works if you're a policeman in NH
Some excerpts from the http://www.unionleader.com/
9/11/08
"Judge: Hooksett officer not guilty of DWI"
By LAUREN SAUSSER, Union Leader Correspondent
"A Hooksett Police Officer Benjamin Beauchemin, who was arrested in May on a charge of driving while intoxicated, was found not guilty in Candia District Court yesterday.
Immediately after the accident, Beauchemin exited his car unharmed. He approached two eyewitnesses at the crash site and told them there was no need to call 911 because he was a police officer. He showed eyewitness Bret Pomeroy, 19, who was standing outside in the driveway when the car flipped over, his police badge.
"I asked him why he was going so fast," Pomeroy testified yesterday. "He showed me the badge. (He) told me he was a police officer. He said, 'I'm OK.' "
Beauchemin then fled the property on foot. He claimed that he went to his girlfriend's house nearby and drank four beers in rapid succession in order to calm his nerves from the crash."
For the full story: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Judge%3a+Hooksett+officer+not+guilty+of+DWI&articleId=c7597629-6beb-4073-a6bc-5d9fc5794866
9/11/08
"Judge: Hooksett officer not guilty of DWI"
By LAUREN SAUSSER, Union Leader Correspondent
"A Hooksett Police Officer Benjamin Beauchemin, who was arrested in May on a charge of driving while intoxicated, was found not guilty in Candia District Court yesterday.
Immediately after the accident, Beauchemin exited his car unharmed. He approached two eyewitnesses at the crash site and told them there was no need to call 911 because he was a police officer. He showed eyewitness Bret Pomeroy, 19, who was standing outside in the driveway when the car flipped over, his police badge.
"I asked him why he was going so fast," Pomeroy testified yesterday. "He showed me the badge. (He) told me he was a police officer. He said, 'I'm OK.' "
Beauchemin then fled the property on foot. He claimed that he went to his girlfriend's house nearby and drank four beers in rapid succession in order to calm his nerves from the crash."
For the full story: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Judge%3a+Hooksett+officer+not+guilty+of+DWI&articleId=c7597629-6beb-4073-a6bc-5d9fc5794866
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Free Micro-Expression tool online
Facial Expressions Test
How good are you at interpreting facial expressions?
By Meridith Levinson
Here is a brief quiz to test your ability to correctly identify the emotion behind facial expressions. To take the quiz, click a numbered button below to view images of individuals. These images will change briefly to display an expression. After the expression has flashed click on the word that describes the expression you have identitied. If you were wrong, click on another word button until you are told you are right. After the expression has flashed, you can press the corresponding numeric key on your keyboard to hold the expression on the screen.
This interactive graphic is based on "The Micro Expression Training Tool" developed by Paul Ekman, PH.D., a professor of psychology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco.
Link: http://www.cio.com/article/facial-expressions-test
How good are you at interpreting facial expressions?
By Meridith Levinson
Here is a brief quiz to test your ability to correctly identify the emotion behind facial expressions. To take the quiz, click a numbered button below to view images of individuals. These images will change briefly to display an expression. After the expression has flashed click on the word that describes the expression you have identitied. If you were wrong, click on another word button until you are told you are right. After the expression has flashed, you can press the corresponding numeric key on your keyboard to hold the expression on the screen.
This interactive graphic is based on "The Micro Expression Training Tool" developed by Paul Ekman, PH.D., a professor of psychology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco.
Link: http://www.cio.com/article/facial-expressions-test
Facial Coding Sytem on how to spot liars
The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) Manual is a detailed, technical guide that explains how to categorize facial behaviors based on the muscles that produce them, i.e., how muscular action is related to facial appearances. It illustrates appearance changes of the face using written descriptions, still images, and digital video examples. Behavioral scientists, CG animators, computer scientists interested in pattern recognition programs, and other technicians and scientists use FACS in their professional work when they need to know the exact movements that the face can perform, and what muscles produce them. Working through the exercises of the FACS Manual may also enable greater awareness of and sensitivity to subtle facial behaviors that could be useful for psychotherapists, interviewers, and other practitioners who must penetrate deeply into interpersonal communications.
FACS is a training manual, not necessarily easy reading, with lessons for detecting, performing, and categorizing facial movements. The manual does not discuss what the facial appearances described mean, except briefly in the Investigator's Guide. The FACS Manual enables the practitioner to recognize the elements of facial behavior that combine to create meaningful communications; FACS teaches the "alphabet" but leaves the considerable issue of semantics to other works. The FACS Investigator's Guide explains in general how to use FACS in scientific research, how it compares to other facial measurements, and what its psychometric properties are. The new version (2002) of FACS by Paul Ekman, Wallace V. Friesen, and Joseph C. Hager is now available for purchase. You can read about the new version of the FACS Manual, and purchase it on this site.
These two links provides lots of useful information in spotting liars, which will aid investigators.
http://www.face-and-emotion.com/dataface/general/homepage.jsp
Blog with numerous links
http://eyesforlies.blogspot.com/2008/07/article-science-of-sniffing-out-liars.html
FACS is a training manual, not necessarily easy reading, with lessons for detecting, performing, and categorizing facial movements. The manual does not discuss what the facial appearances described mean, except briefly in the Investigator's Guide. The FACS Manual enables the practitioner to recognize the elements of facial behavior that combine to create meaningful communications; FACS teaches the "alphabet" but leaves the considerable issue of semantics to other works. The FACS Investigator's Guide explains in general how to use FACS in scientific research, how it compares to other facial measurements, and what its psychometric properties are. The new version (2002) of FACS by Paul Ekman, Wallace V. Friesen, and Joseph C. Hager is now available for purchase. You can read about the new version of the FACS Manual, and purchase it on this site.
These two links provides lots of useful information in spotting liars, which will aid investigators.
http://www.face-and-emotion.com/dataface/general/homepage.jsp
Blog with numerous links
http://eyesforlies.blogspot.com/2008/07/article-science-of-sniffing-out-liars.html
Email search information
Try the email search page, If you know somebody's email address, and are trying to find out their name, use the reverse email search page.
If you're using Microsoft Windows XP, you can use the built-in search tool. Go to "Start" then choose the "Search" function and select "For People". From there, you can search your computer's address book, and various directories around the Web. You can import the results of your search into your address book.
Don't neglect one important source of information: the search engines! You can try a search for an email address on Google or Yahoo! by simply entering the full email address into the search box - this will return all pages that contain that address.
Two links that can aid you in finding email addresses...
http://www.emailaddresses.com/email_find.html
http://www.1netcentral.com/email-search.html
If you're using Microsoft Windows XP, you can use the built-in search tool. Go to "Start" then choose the "Search" function and select "For People". From there, you can search your computer's address book, and various directories around the Web. You can import the results of your search into your address book.
Don't neglect one important source of information: the search engines! You can try a search for an email address on Google or Yahoo! by simply entering the full email address into the search box - this will return all pages that contain that address.
Two links that can aid you in finding email addresses...
http://www.emailaddresses.com/email_find.html
http://www.1netcentral.com/email-search.html
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Publice records free online forms
"FedFlix is a joint venture with the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). Each month they send us government videotapes. We upload them to the Internet Archive and YouTube, then send the government back their videotapes and a digital copy for their files. No cost to them, more data for all of us."
Source: http://public.resource.org/
Source: http://public.resource.org/
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Boston University Private Investigations Program
This program will give you the necessary tools which will assist you in working with PI's in your future endeavors. If you have any questions related to the course please contact, Tom Shamshak PI, who runs the PI course.
His website and email are listed below...
http://www.shamshakpi.com/
his email: TShamshak@aol.com
Information concerning the Boston University Private Investigation course...
"The Boston University Certificate in Professional Investigation program is ideal for a range of individuals, including current investigative professionals or those in related fields, as well as those seeking to enter this exciting and rewarding field. This certificate program offers a unique course of study in the private investigation profession, and is taught by educators who are also experienced licensed private investigators. Designed to accommodate the busy schedules of working individuals, this comprehensive curriculum delivers over 160 hours of instruction in seven modules. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded a Certificate in Professional Investigation from Boston University."
Link: http://professional.bu.edu/cpe/investigation.asp
His website and email are listed below...
http://www.shamshakpi.com/
his email: TShamshak@aol.com
Information concerning the Boston University Private Investigation course...
"The Boston University Certificate in Professional Investigation program is ideal for a range of individuals, including current investigative professionals or those in related fields, as well as those seeking to enter this exciting and rewarding field. This certificate program offers a unique course of study in the private investigation profession, and is taught by educators who are also experienced licensed private investigators. Designed to accommodate the busy schedules of working individuals, this comprehensive curriculum delivers over 160 hours of instruction in seven modules. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded a Certificate in Professional Investigation from Boston University."
Link: http://professional.bu.edu/cpe/investigation.asp
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Felon Spy website service is a hoax.
I received an anonymous email that was sent to me today, it explains that the service http://www.felonspy.com/ is not a real felon locator. The email directed me to www.snopes.com. I apologize for posting this site on my blog. The posting has been deleted.
Here is the link:http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/felonspy.asp
Here is the link:http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/felonspy.asp
Monday, September 1, 2008
Fight a Mass. State police speeding ticket
Helpful advice and forms to fight a speeding ticket in Mass.
Also at the bottom of the page is a link that the Mass. State Police must abide by when issuing a speeding ticket.
http://www.motorists.org/ma/oldmanews2.htm
Mass. State Police Speed Measuring forms Link:
http://www.motorists.org/ma/State%20Police%20Speed%20Measuring%20Document%202.pdf
Also at the bottom of the page is a link that the Mass. State Police must abide by when issuing a speeding ticket.
http://www.motorists.org/ma/oldmanews2.htm
Mass. State Police Speed Measuring forms Link:
http://www.motorists.org/ma/State%20Police%20Speed%20Measuring%20Document%202.pdf
Three Websites that provide campus crime data
Three websites that provide Campus Crime data.
http://ucrime.com
http://ope.ed.gov/security/index.aspx
http://www.spotcrime.com
http://ucrime.com
http://ope.ed.gov/security/index.aspx
http://www.spotcrime.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)