Policy Text
Policy
600Santa Ana Police Department
Santa Ana PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentInvestigation and Prosecution - 1Investigation and Prosecution
600.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines and requirements for the handling and disposition of criminal
investigations.
600.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Santa Ana Police Department to investigate crimes thoroughly and with due
diligence, and to evaluate and prepare criminal cases for appropriate closure 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 whether a crime has been committed by conducting,
at a minimum:
(a)An initial interview of any witnesses or complainants.
(b)A cursory examination for evidence.
(b)If information indicates a crime has occurred, the officer shall:
(a)Preserve the scene and any evidence as required to complete the initial and
follow-up investigation.
(b)Determine if additional investigative resources (e.g., investigators or scene
processing) are necessary and request assistance as required.
(c)If assistance is warranted, or if the incident is not routine, notify a supervisor or
the Watch Commander.
(d)Make reasonable attempts to locate, identify and interview all available victims,
complainants, witnesses and suspects.
(e)Collect any evidence.
(f)Take appropriate law enforcement action.
(g)Complete and submit appropriate reports and documentation in accordance with
the Report Preparation Policy.
(c)If the preliminary determination is that no crime occurred, determine what additional
action may be necessary, what additional resources may be available, and advise the
informant or complainant of this information.
600.3.2 NON-SWORN MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
A non-sworn member assigned to a preliminary investigation is responsible for all investigative
steps, except making attempts to locate, contact or interview a suspect face-to-face or take any
Santa Ana Police Department
Santa Ana PD Policy Manual
Investigation and Prosecution
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentInvestigation and Prosecution - 2law enforcement action. Should an initial investigation indicate such steps are required, the non-
sworn member shall obtain assistance of an officer.
600.4 CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION REQUIREMENTS
Suspects who are in custody and subjected to an interrogation shall be given the Miranda warning,
unless an exception applies. Interview or interrogation of a juvenile shall be in accordance with
the Temporary Custody of Juveniles Policy.
600.4.1 AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDINGS
Any custodial interrogation of an individual who is suspected of having committed any violent
felony or sexual offense should be recorded (audio or video with audio as available) in its entirety.
Regardless of where the interrogation occurs, every reasonable effort should be made to secure
functional recording equipment to accomplish such recordings.
Consideration should be given to recording a custodial interrogation or an investigative interview,
for any other offense when it is reasonable to believe it would be appropriate and beneficial to the
investigation and is otherwise allowed by law.
No recording of a custodial interrogation should be destroyed or altered without written
authorization from the prosecuting attorney and the Investigative Bureau supervisor. Copies of
recorded interrogations or interviews may be made in the same or a different format as the original
recording, provided the copies are true, accurate and complete and are made only for authorized
and legitimate law enforcement purposes.
Recordings should not take the place of a thorough report and summary of investigative interviews.
Written statements from suspects should be obtained when applicable.
600.4.2 MANDATORY RECORDING OF ADULTS
Any custodial interrogation of an adult who is suspected of having committed any murder shall
be recorded in its entirety. The recording should be video with audio if reasonably feasible (Penal
Code § 859.5). Non-sworn members shall not interview anyone suspected of having committed
murder or having any involvement in the criminal or non-criminal death of another without the
assistance of an officer/detective.
This recording is not mandatory when (Penal Code § 859.5):
(a)Recording is not feasible because of exigent circumstances that are later documented
in a report.
(b)The suspect refuses to have the interrogation recorded, including a refusal any time
during the interrogation, and the refusal is documented in a report. If feasible, the
refusal shall be electronically recorded.
(c)The custodial interrogation occurred in another state by law enforcement officers
of that state, unless the interrogation was conducted with the intent to avoid the
requirements of Penal Code § 859.5.
Santa Ana Police Department
Santa Ana PD Policy Manual
Investigation and Prosecution
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentInvestigation and Prosecution - 3(d)The interrogation occurs when the member conducting the interrogation does not have
a reason to believe the individual may have committed murder. Continued custodial
interrogation concerning the offense shall be electronically recorded if the interrogating
member develops a reason to believe the individual committed murder.
(e)The interrogation would disclose the identity of a confidential informant or would
jeopardize the safety of an officer, the individual being interrogated or another
individual. Such circumstances shall be documented in a report.
(f)A recording device fails despite reasonable maintenance and the timely repair or
replacement is not feasible.
(g)The questions are part of a routine processing or booking and are not considered to