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Environmental Investigations: A New Way of Thinking

NCJ Number
165166
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 23 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1996) Pages: 94,96,98-99
Author(s)
P Laska
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Environmental investigations have become a growing facet of law enforcement, and criminal investigators have begun to recognize the importance of actively investigating and prosecuting environmental crimes.
Abstract
Environmental investigations bring together varied professionals and permit them to use their unique skills. Although police officers should be in control of these investigations, technical expertise can be provided by public health and hazardous waste regulators. Regulators operate within the civil system, while police officers answer to standards of the criminal justice system. Police officers should recognize that certain aspects of environmental cases are different from traditional criminal cases. Environmental investigators need specialized training in such areas as interviewing, evidence processing, scene documentation, and legal procedures. The Environmental Protection Agency offers training courses at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and environmental intelligence groups have been organized to facilitate information exchange and training programs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that anyone operating a hazardous waste site receive 40 hours of training. The prosecution of environmental crimes is discussed, and equipment needed to investigate environmental crimes is described. 2 photographs