U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Internal Investigations: A Practitioner's Approach

NCJ Number
218990
Author(s)
Frank A. Colaprete Ed.D.
Date Published
2007
Length
359 pages
Annotation
This book explores the issues and process of conducting proper and thorough internal investigations.
Abstract
Throughout the history of law enforcement, the internal investigation process has held the most negative connotation of any investigation conducted by law enforcement personnel. Today, the need for efficient and effective law enforcement services and practices grows more critical. The goal of this book is to demonstrate this need for proper and complete internal investigations, and to teach the entry level and tenured police supervisor the form and function of the internal investigations process. The text selectively focuses on the purposes and practical implications of internal investigations and the pitfalls. The goal is to guide students and professionals through definitions, terminology, legal and labor issues, case law, techniques and procedures, and critical and special investigations, including issues in administrative and civil claims. The book will meet the needs of attorneys who litigate cases involving allegations of police misconduct, as well as collective bargaining groups who represent police personnel in similar actions. This book is divided into 17 comprehensive chapters demonstrating and modeling the conduction of proper and complete internal investigations. These include: the purposes and practical implications of internal investigations; pitfalls of conducting internal investigations; ethics and leadership; police officer stress; definitions and terminology; legal and labor issues; investigative techniques and procedures; incident investigations: crimes and use of force; critical incident investigations: deadly physical force and in-custody death; special investigations; issues in administrative and civil claims investigations; evidence identification, evaluation, and collection; case investigation summary and package; case review process; risk management; training and managing internal investigators; and future trends in internal investigations. Appendix and references