1. What are the benefits of having police investigators who specialize in a certain area? What are the drawbacks? Do you support specialization or generalization?
2. Of all the suggested characteristics required for an effective investigator, which three are the most critical? Are these qualifications more stringent than those required for a patrol officer?
3. What is the role of the victim in investigating crime?
4. What misconceptions regarding investigation are conveyed by television shows and movies?
5. What do you believe is the most important goal of a criminal investigation?
6. What major factors must responding officers consider while proceeding to a crime scene?
7. How important is response time to the investigation of a crime? How is the importance affected by the type of crime?
8. What determines who is in charge at a crime scene? What authority does this officer have?
9. Controversy exists over which emergency takes precedence: an armed suspect at or near the scene or a severely injured person. Which do you think should take priority? Why?
10. What balance should be maintained between freedom of the media to obtain information during a crime investigation and the right to privacy of the individuals involved?
11. Do you agree that note taking is a skill? Is this skill something all police officers must possess to do their jobs properly?
12. Compare and contrast the benefits and drawbacks of retaining and filing field notes.
13. Have you ever found yourself in a position where you realized that you did not take sufficient notes? Explain.
14. Have you ever found yourself in a position where you realized that you did not take sufficient notes? Explain.
15. In what types of crimes are photographs likely to be important to the investigation?
16. What basic sketching materials would you want in an investigative kit?
17. Do you think notes should be retained or destroyed after a report has been written?
18. Is time a factor in the quality of reports?
19. What gives you the most difficulty in writing reports?
20. Are you familiar with any report-writing software? If so, what is your opinion of the program(s)?
21. How do you feel about having to submit both positive and negative information to the prosecuting attorney?