HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-13-2001 ICPD General Orders INV-01.1
INVESTIGATIVE
CASE SCREENING
PROCESS
Date of Issue J General Order Number
February 8, 2001 91-07
Effective Date Section Code
February 12, 2001 INV-01 (previously OPS-05)
Reevaluation Date ~ Amends / Cancels
February 2003 91-07 Effective October 8, 1991
C.A.L.E.A. Reference
41.1.2, 15.1.1, 15.1.2
INDEX AS: ,
Investigations Follow-up Investigations
Case Screening Criteria '
Exceptional Circumstances
Solvability Factors
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish the policies and procedures of the Iowa City
Police Department, Investigative Case Screening Process. This process shall be the
means for determining whether an investigation should be continued.
II. POLICY
It is the policy of the Iowa City Police Department to investigate crimes to the extent
practical. The decision to continue or discontinue a case shall be made on available
information and may be based in part, on the desire and willingness of the victim to
pursue the case, and the existence of any suspects. The determination shall be based
in part upon the existence of sufficient solvability factors obtained through the initial
investigation.
INV-01.2
III. DEFINITIONS
Solvability Factors - Elements of information about a crime which have proven in the
past to be important in the successful conclusion of a case. Case screening is
designed to provide sufficient information about a case at the earliest possible time in
the investigative process in order to permit a decision to be made regarding the value of
continuing an investigation. The outcomes of case screening will be either: early
suspension of unpromising cases or, a follow-up investigation of those cases with a
reasonable probability of case clearance.
The objectives of the Investigative Case Screening Process are:
1. To establish the policies and procedures for determining whether to assign a
case for additional follow-up investigation or to suspend any further investigation.
2. To establish the responsibility and accountability for the decision to assign or
screen out a case.
3. To manage the investigative caseload so that the potential for solving cases is
improved.
4. To assign for additional follow-up investigation only those cases with sufficient
solvability factors, in order to increase the probability of case clearance.
5. To provide procedures for notifying crime victims of the current status of their
case.
IV. PROCEDURES
CASE SCREENING CRITERIA
A. SOLVABILITY FACTORS AND VALUES
,C~l. ,~a~,es have been assigned to each solvability factor based upon the relationship
!~.,L· - ~ '-each factor to the successful completion of past cases. These solvability
LL~ "' V~Iu_es provide the basis for determining whether a case will be screened out or
-- ~'~ ass.!gned for follow-up investigation.
LL :: ,--.,-
C:2.f~i~speci~c values assigned to the solvability factors are:
a. Reliable witness 3 pts
b. Suspect names 5 pts
c. Suspect described 2 pts
d. Suspect Location 2 pts
INV-01.3
e. Suspect identified 2 }ts
f. Suspect previously seen I ~t.
g. Suspect vehicle described 2 ~ts
h. Traceable property 2 ~ts
i. Significant m.o. 1 ~t.
j. Useable physical evidence 1 ~t.
k. Limited opportunity for anyone other than suspect to commit
the crime. 2 pts
I. Offense may be solved with reasonable additional invest. effort. 3 pts
B. CASE SCREENING DECISION CRITERIA
1. The minimum solvability factor value required for case assignment for follow-up
investigation is five (5) points. Any case with less than five (5) points may be
screened out and not be assigned for follow-up investigation. Exceptions will be
made as contained in this policy.
2. The determination of the total number of solvability factor values present in a
case is based upon the sum of the point values for each specific solvability
factor.
i.e.: If the case has a reliable witness (3 pts.) who can specifically describe the
suspect (2 pts.) and the suspect's vehicle (2 pts.), the case contains a total of
seven (7) solvability values and would be assigned for follow-up in~e~jgati0n.
::.
CASE SCREENING RESPONSIBILITY
A. WATCH COMMMANDER .. ._=
1. The Watch Commander will be responsible for:
a. Reviewing offense repo~s for completeness of the initial investigati0~ and
accuracy of the information contained on the offense repo~.
b. Reviewing cases fo~arded by officers under his/her command, to ensure
that they have been followed up to the extent practical under the pa~icular
CjFcu~staRces.
2. If, under exceptional circumstances, and in the Watch Commanders opinion an
immediate follow-up investigation would substantially increase the likelihood of
suspect apprehension or case clearance, the Watch Commander may assign
the case for an immediate follow-up investigation.
INV-01.4 '
B. INVESTIGATION SUPERVISOR
1. The responsibility of the Investigations Supervisor in the case screening process
will be:
a. To review all offense reports forwarded to the investigative section.
b. To determine whether sufficient solvability factors and values are present in
the case; and,
c. To either assign the case for follow-up investigation or suspend the case and
notify the victim(s) of the status of the investigation.
1 ) Upon assignment of the case by the Investigative Lieutenant, the case
shall file shall include the date of the assignment. The initial investigative
reports should be submitted within 30 days of assignment of the case.
This may be extended or waived at the discretion of the Lieutenant of the
Invesfigafive Section.
2) Unless otherwise directed, upon assignment of the case, the assigned
investigator shall keep all records, statements, lab reports, and other case
related materials with the case file. The Lieutenant of the Investigative
Section or designee shall have access to the file at all times.
· 3) The Lieutenant of the Investigative Section shall review the status of all
assigned cases no latter than 30 days after assignment. Cases will be
~-.~assigned an "Open" or "Closed" status. Open cases will remain under
~"~ ._~<~.vestigation. Cases may be closed by arrest, exceptional clearance, or
,- --,~' ~ ~_ r::suspended.
__, , -::
'j- :.4_)~:(Jpon the closing of a case. the case file shall remain in records pursuant
· :--"~---:;,, ,~2.to departmental guidelines on record retention. Files, which are subject to
L'_ :. ~~ ~:_being recorded photographically or electronically, may be retrieved by the
L~_ :~Leutenant of the Investigative section or the investigating officer and
~ .3-~tored pursuant to the direction of the Lieutenant.
d. To forward offense reports to crime analysis (Planning and Research) with
sufficient information about the case screening decision.
C. EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES
a. While the case screening cdteria are very specific, the Investigative Case
Screening Process will be flexible enough to allow for exceptional
circumstances including, but not limited to: )
INV-01.5
1. Offenses of significant importance to the community.
2. Potential danger to victim(s) or witness(es).
3. Seriousness of offense.
4. Pattern, frequency, or m.o. characteristics of offense.
5. Management decisions to pursue a case regardless of solvability factors.
b. While there is a degree of flexibility in the case screening process,
exceptional circumstances such as those described above shall be the
exception, rather than a standard procedure.
D. REPORT REVIEW/CRIME ANALYSIS OFFICER
1. The responsibility of the report review/crime analysis officer in the case
screening process will be:
a. To coordinate the Investigative Case Screening Process to ensure that the
screening decisions are within established procedural guidelines;
b. To analyze offense, incident and other reports for crime patterns and trends,
similar m.o. characteristics, or unique factors and to notify appropriate
personnel of the results of these analyses through bulletins, spot maps
and/or other appropriate reports;
c. To analyze the any changes in patterns/trends in connection with changes in
enforcement efforts.
d. To review current trends, patterns, and/or problems with the Chief of Police
or designee as needed/required.
CRIME ANALYSIS
Crime analysis will, at a minimum, consist of the following: analysis of case
reports, incident reports, and calls for service.
To the extent possible, crime data shall be analyzed to identify th~_~ollowing:
1. Temporal and geographic factors/distribution of selected type~.0f'crimB;
2. Frequency by type of crime;
3. Victim or target descriptors/types;
4. Suspect identifiers or descriptors; - :..
5. Suspect vehicle identifiers; ~, ~ _ - · :.. '."
6. MO identifiers; :~
7. Physical evidence information; and
8. Other factors as determined by the Crime Analysis Officer.
INV-01.6'
In addition, as requested, the Cdme Analysis section should develop
recommendations for prevention and enforcement strategies.
As available, crime analysis data should be forwarded to the affected watches
and officers assigned to the specific geographical area.
E. COMMANDER - FIELD OPERATIONS
1. The responsibility of the Commander, Field Operations in the case screening
process will be to resolve any problems or conflicts developing from the case
screening process.
Upon receiving a case, the Lieutenant of the Investigative Section shall make a
determination of the "solvability" of the particular case using the criteria
contained in General Order 91-07. Once assigned, the Lieutenant of the
Investigative Section shall maintain records indicating the status of the case.
The case records should indicate the case number, date assigned, the
investigator assigned, case status, days open and other information as
determined by the Lieutenant of the Investigative Section.
The assigned investigator shall maintain the case file in a secure area. The file
shall include a copy of the preliminary investigative report and any written
statements. In addition the file may include any lab results, follow up reports,
notes, statements, and other materials as determined by the investigating officer.
The investigating officers' follow-up should include those steps necessary to
adequately conclude the investigation. To the extent necessary and practical the
investigating officer should:
a. Review and analyze previous reports, records and/or technical reports and
lab results relative to the investigation.
b. Conduct additional interviews and/or interrogations.
1) This may include the interviewing or re-interviewing of the victim,
o., ~ witnesses and "bystanders".
<'~ ~ ~) Determine if any witnesses may be able to identify a suspect from a
fZ_! . ~ :'.z, :=: lineup. ,,
i_j~ "' G:.:, :SZeek additional information from both departmental and non-departmental'
:_,-::;.~.::': :~6urces. These may include but are not limited to:
"L:- ' '~'_:: .1) Speaking with the officer(s) who were initially assigned the call.
:.1 0 '~ Obtaining information/data from the planning and research.
;~ Obtaining information from records.
4) Obtaining information from informants.
5) Obtaining information from organizations, businesses, institutions and
others that may have dealt with potential suspects.
d. Ensure that the collection of evidence and the search of any relevant areas
has been completed.
e. Maintain contact with victims and witnesses throughout the duration of the )
investigation. -
INV-01.7
f. Identify potential suspects and eliminate those who are no longer suspects.
g. Determine the suspect's potential involvement in other related crimes.
h. Check criminal history of suspects.
i. Thoroughly prepare the case for legal presentation.
Upon conclusion or suspension of an investigation, the investigator shall forward the
case file to the lieutenant of the Investigative Section. The lieutenant should purge the
file of all redundant or non related materials and forward the file to the Records Section.
J.J~elhake, Chief of Police
WARNING
This directive is for departmental use only and does not apply in any criminal or civil
proceeding. The department policy should not be construed as a creation of a higher
legal standard of safety or care in an evidentiary sense with respect to third-party
claims. Violations of this directive will only form the basis for departmental
administrative sanctions.