Investigation_and_Prosecution

Policy 600CSU Police Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentInvestigation and Prosecution - 1Investigation and Prosecution 600.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to set guidelines and requirements pertaining to the handling and disposition of criminal investigations. 600.2 POLICY It is the policy of the CSU Police Department to investigate crimes thoroughly and with due diligence, and to evaluate and prepare criminal cases for appropriate clearance or submission to a prosecutor. 600.3 INITIAL INVESTIGATION 600.3.1 OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES An officer responsible for an initial investigation shall complete no less than the following: (a)Make a preliminary determination of whether a crime has been committed by completing, at a minimum: 1.An initial statement from any witnesses or complainants. 2.A cursory examination for evidence. (b)If information indicates a crime has occurred, the officer shall: (a)Provide for the safety of all involved parties, render aid and request appropriate medical resources if necessary. (b)Preserve the scene and any evidence as required to complete the initial and follow-up investigation. (c)Determine if additional investigative resources (e.g., investigators or scene processing) are necessary and request assistance as required. (d)If assistance is warranted, or if the incident is not routine, notify a supervisor or the Watch Commander. (e)Make reasonable attempts to locate, identify and interview all available victims, complainants, witnesses and suspects. (f)Collect any evidence. (g)Take any appropriate law enforcement action. (h)Complete and submit the appropriate reports and documentation. (c)If the preliminary determination is that no crime occurred, determine what other action may be necessary, what other resources may be available, and advise the informant or complainant of this information. CSU Police Department Policy Manual Investigation and Prosecution Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentInvestigation and Prosecution - 2600.3.2 NON-SWORN MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES A non-sworn member assigned to any preliminary investigation is responsible for all investigative steps, except making any attempt to locate, contact or interview a suspect face-to-face or take any enforcement action. Should an initial investigation indicate that those steps are required, the assistance of an officer shall be requested. 600.4 FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION The supervisor will review completed reports written by patrol officers and determine whether or not the case requires a follow-up investigation. If a follow-up investigation is warranted, the shift supervisor will assign the follow-up to a patrol officer or notify the Investigations supervisor to request a detective to conduct follow-up. These assignments will be made via the report writing case approval process (see Report Preparation Policy). (a)Follow-up investigations should normally be assigned to the initial/primary officer or other available patrol officers when there is the potential for developing additional information by re-contacting the victim or witnesses. (b)Patrol officers are encouraged to conduct follow-up investigations as long as staffing and scheduling allow with prior supervisor approval. (c)Cases that will normally be assigned to Investigations: 1.Part I offenses and serious Part II offenses; 2.Cases that require follow-up activities off-campus; 3.Cases with workable leads and/or recovered physical evidence. (d)Detectives and patrol officers shall document all follow-up activities with supplemental reports in the report writing system. 600.4.1 FOLLOW-UP GUIDELINES Follow-up investigations will include the following (if necessary): (a)Reviewing and analyzing all reports prepared during the preliminary investigation phase, department records involving similar cases, and laboratory examination results, if applicable; (b)Conducting additional interviews of witnesses, victims/complainants and interview/ interrogation of possible suspects; (c)Seeking additional information from uniformed officers; (d)Revisiting the crime scene, planning, organizing and conducting searches, and collecting additional physical evidence; (e)Attempting to identify and apprehend suspects, through use of such investigative techniques as photo line-ups, field show-ups, and/or physical line-ups; (f)Determining suspects' method of operation and possible involvement in other unsolved crimes; CSU Police Department Policy Manual Investigation and Prosecution Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentInvestigation and Prosecution - 3(g)Checking suspects' criminal and campus conduct histories; (h)Performing additional follow-up at the request of the prosecuting attorney; (i)Analyzing electronic access logs and electronic media; (j)Reviewing publicly accessible information on social media sites; (k)Maintaining contact with principal parties in an investigation; (l)Preparing cases for court presentation and/or administrative referral to campus judicial systems. 600.5 SPECIAL INVESTIGATION Receiving, processing, and investigating vice, drug, and organized crime complaints. (a)Complaint Receipt 1.Intelligence information may be received from several sources such as anonymous tips, private citizens' observations or knowledge, officer's observation, media sources, electronic information, etc. 2.Upon receipt of information of a criminal nature occurring within the jurisdiction of the Department concerning organized crime, gang, vice or narcotics activity, officers will complete a police report detailing the information received and forward a copy to the appropriate Investigations Sergeant and the Patrol Operations supervisor. 3.Information received from other law-enforcement agencies will be documented and forwarded in the same manner. 4.Any information that