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INVESTIGATIVE PLANNING - OPERATIONAL GUIDE TO WHITE-COLLAR CRIME ENFORCEMENT - A REPORT OF THE NATIONAL CENTER ON WHITE-COLLAR CRIME

NCJ Number
51996
Author(s)
R O'NEILL
Date Published
1977
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THIS STEP-BY-STEP MANUAL IS WRITTEN TO HELP THE POLICE AGENCY UNFAMILIAR WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME TO PLAN AND CARRY OUT INVESTIGATIONS. TECHNIQUES, WARNINGS, AND HINTS ARE PROVIDED.
Abstract
THE INVESTIGATION OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME IS PRESENTED AS A CHALLENGE, MORE INTERESTING TO INVESTIGATORS THAN ROUTINE BURGLARY AND LARCENY CASES. THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING A CLEAR IDEA OF THE TYPES OF FRAUD PERPETRATED IN WHITE COLLAR CRIME IS EMPHASIZED. TECHNIQUES FOR GATHERING INTELLIGENCE ARE DISCUSSED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE AND FLEXIBILITY FOR THE INVESTIGATOR IS STRESSED. INVESTIGATORS ARE WARNED THAT SUSPECTS OFTEN WILL BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH BUSINESS LAW AND OPERATIONS THAN THE INVESTIGATOR. TECHNIQUES FOR SUCCESSFULLY HANDLING WITNESSES AND SUSPECTS UNDER THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXPLAINED. SEARCH AND SEIZURE TECHNIQUES ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL, AND INVESTIGATORS ARE WARNED THAT THEY WILL NEED GOOD REASONS FOR SEIZING DOCUMENTS. COURT CASES AFFECTING THE DOCUMENT SEIZURE PROCESS ARE REVIEWED BRIEFLY. DOCUMENT CONTROL ALSO IS COVERED IN DETAIL; INVESTIGATORS ARE WARNED AGAINST LOSING ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, OR WORSE, BURYING THEM IN PILES OF PAPER SO THAT THEY CANNOT BE RETRIEVED EASILY. VARIOUS TYPES OF DOCUMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE EXAMINED. INTERVIEWING, REPORT WRITING, AND DATA ANALYSIS ARE EXAMINED ALSO. THE USE OF A CALENDAR FRAMEWORK TO TRACE THE OPERATIONS OF A SCHEME IS EXPLAINED. A GRAPHIC ANALYSIS IS RECOMMENDED AS AN INVESTIGATIVE TOOL. TWO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.