Role of the Criminal Investigator A criminal investigator is a law enforcement professional who attempts to solve crimes, identify and detain suspects, and prevent further criminal activity. This writing assignment will include the role of a criminal investigator, the investigation process, collecting and interpreting evidence, interviewing witnesses, questioning suspects, and making judicial Miranda demands. The role of a criminal investigator when first arriving on scene is to meet with the lead detective and first officer on the scene. The criminal investigator will hold a small interview session to gather information that will help him understand what happened, when it happened, and the sequence of events that occurred. Once the scene has been secured with a sufficient number of officers for the protection of the criminal investigators and unauthorized personnel have been kept out of the crime scene, the crime scene investigator can begin working on the scene. Evidence is the next step a crime scene investigator must take in the case. They are required to find evidence for the case and attempt to locate the evidence. They must connect the person responsible for the crime to the scene and connect the suspects to the evidence. The next thing the criminal investigator needs to do is start working on the scene by photographing the scene from the outside working all 360 degrees of the perimeter. Photographs are taken of the entire exterior of the scene from all angles. Photos are taken of what is directly in front of the scene and what is up and down the street in opposite directions. Then an illustration, a roughly hand-drawn product that includes the test locations, should be completed. Once the outside work is completed… half of the document… court In conclusion, Miranda rights should be recognized prior to custodial interrogations. Interrogations include any explicit questioning or any verbal or nonverbal conduct required by law to elicit an incriminating statement from a suspect. Miranda rights do not only refer to the questions asked but to the words of the police. When reading Miranda rights, it is critical to ensure that the suspect understands these rights. The role of a criminal investigator should include integrity and ethics: these qualities help agencies become more effective and trustworthy for communities - Anthony M. Golec, CLI, Techniques of Legal Investigation, The Criminal Defense Legal Council (Illinois: Charles C. Thomas) Publisher, third edition, 1995), pp. 112-114.HW 'Rus' Ruslander (2010) Crime Scene Investigators Inc. www.Criminalistics.com United States Department of Justice (March 2014)