Working, Controlling and Managing Major Cases
24 Hour Training Course / KLEC Certified
Course Description:
This is a practical 3-day course designed to provide participants with skills, knowledge, techniques, and abilities to examine the decisions to be made before undertaking a major case and to avoid mistakes made by investigating officers. This course will focus on attention to crime scene entry, protection, and control; coordination of the investigation; competent investigation techniques; and trial and post-arrest activities. Training is designed to meet the needs of decision and policy makers, supervisors, or officers leading major investigations (i.e. homicide, media-sensitive incidents).
This 3-day course is designed to address four important areas when working major cases: 1) Scene investigation; 2) Coordination of the investigation; 3) Competent investigative protocol and 4) Post-arrest and trial activities.
Course Topics and Areas of Study:
- Why Things Go Wrong on Major Cases
- Crime Scene Approach, Entry, Control and Protocol
- Major Case Crime Scene Policy
- Evidence & Miranda Issues
- Dealing with Victims & Witnesses
- Dealing with the Media
- Investigative Protocol
- Qualities of a Good Investigator
- Investigative Organization & Lead-Tracking
Course Materials and Equipment
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Course materials (i.e., Powerpoint presentations, handouts, articles, etc.) will be provided electronically for this course on a computerized access link provided to registered students prior to the class. It is highly recommended that students download course materials to a laptop, tablet or other device prior to the first day of class and bring the device with them to the course. Otherwise, students should print SPI-provided course materials from the access link and bring printed materials with them to class.
In order to download course materials from the access link, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel software (Office Suite) should be installed on laptop, tablet or other device.
Who Should Attend:
Newer supervisors or officers who lead investigations, deemed by circumstances, to be major in nature. (Examples of major cases are those involving homicides or cases that are likely to bring media attention to the department or involve political figures or other high profile individuals.)
NOTE: Some segments of this course are taught from the Homicide Investigation course.
Instructors:
Upcoming Training and Lodging:
If this course is not currently scheduled, it can be brought to your region by a co-hosting agency or through a contract. Learn more.
Registration
Click here to register for courses.
What Our Graduates Are Saying:
"This course was very worthwhile and I will be sending my staff to it in the future."
"Very good course: All of the information was well-presented and easy to understand. Over the past 3 days, I learned a great deal that I can apply to my position tomorrow!"
"The information in this course helped give me a better understanding of how to work a crime scene and how to manage the detectives throughout the investigative process.
"The course was a good overview of major case uniform approach, controlling scenes, coordinating a case and media response. There was an emphasis on canvassing neighborhoods and reconstructing crime scenes which is a great reminder and could be utilized more often."
"This was a good course for me as a detective....The information was reinforced with case studies and practical exercises. This was a very good course and I would recommend it to other lead detectives/case managers."
"Excellent course. One of the best major crime courses I have attended."
"The course was very informative. I enjoyed all the scenarios regarding older homicide cases. All of the information regarding the crime scene security and management is something we will take back to our agency to remind our responding deputies and lead investigators the importance. I also appreciate all of the investigative techniques, tools, and applications shared from all agencies. Great course."
"I am relatively new to the investigative unit of my department. So, this course provided a nice foundation of knowledge that I can take back with me to make my job supervising detectives better."
"The instructor was excellent at explaining some of the more complex attributes of criminal case investigations, which made the course easier to understand."
"This is a course that all supervisory personnel working in investigative units should attend."
"The course met my expectations and provided new information in managing my cases. I will send my detectives to this class in the future."
"Gives great insight for my job and responsibilities as a supervisor."
"This course is beneficial for law enforcement officers no matter what rank they possess. It contains crime scene management and investigative tools for patrol officers and investigators. For supervisors, the course provides useful information on dealing with the media and training."
“The course was great! I have learned a number of techniques that I will implement in my department immediately. There was also a number of new equipment and technology I will now utilize. Again, great class with a lot of materials that can be used.”
“The course material is very relevant to present day investigations and all topics covered gave a great overview. Each element of class is an element of a case….I was able to take away a great deal of information.”
“This training solidified my training and confidence to conduct, manage, and control major cases.”
“Course was very worthwhile and pertinent to major case investigation. There were many good, fundamental techniques that were covered that are often ignored.”
“I will return home with better insight concerning solvability – note taking – canvassing – reconstruction – investigative plan.”
"This course was informative from a practical standpoint. The information was valuable to both the novice and experienced investigator. The course should be considered as mandatory for a newly, or recently assigned criminal investigator, and any officer being considered to work in the capacity of crime scene processing/evidence collection."
"Good information regarding case preparation and crime scene procedures. Information about the pyramid of case preparation from crime scene to prosecution was very helpful."
"This was a terrific course with a great instructor. The information tied 15 years of experience into a cumulative objective. The process to follow an investigation both from a street level and a supervisor level were excellent."
"This course is exactly what I was hoping for. Presentation/materials provide a very good foundation to build on regarding the do's and don'ts."
"The use of so many real cases along with crime scene photos was especially helpful."
"This training course was very beneficial in all aspects. The topics and principles taught were universal in applicability (in all areas of law enforcement)."
"Outstanding course with useable and relevant information which can easily be taken back to the agency for implementation."
"This course was valuable and addressed numerous topics important to an investigator. Of note was the organizational management topics, as well as the importance emphasized on court."
"This class was loaded with good information and changes the way I will look at cases. Great example of cases where the investigators "lock-on & locked-out"."