Section One provides an overview of criminal investigation, including definition of terms, goals and characteristics of criminal investigations, what constitutes an effective investigation, computer-aided investigation, personnel responsibilities, and avoiding liability. Section Two describes investigative techniques such as photographing, note taking, sketching, identifying, collecting and processing physical evidence, obtaining information, and identifying and arresting suspects. Section Three describes investigating crimes against persons, including robbery, assault, sex offenses, crimes against children, and homicide. Section Four describes investigating crimes against property, including burglary, larceny/theft, fraud, white-collar and environmental crime, computer crime, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Section Five discusses other challenges to the criminal investigator, including organized crime, gang-related crime, bias/hate crime and ritualistic crime, and drug buyers and sellers. Section Six reviews the investigator's role in the judicial process, including preparing and presenting cases in court. Cases cited, notes, tables, figures, appendixes, glossary, indexes