PART I: Essay Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions. Your response to each should be at least one half of one page in length and use APA guidelines for formatting and citations.
1. A final report should be included in the criminal investigation and is often a determining factor as to whether or not a case will be prosecuted. Discuss several of the items that should be included in the final report.
2. For many reasons, most criminal cases are resolved without a trial. An excellent investigation and report may cause the defendant to plead guilty, the defendant may desire to plead guilty without going through a trial, or the plea-bargaining process may bring about a satisfactory resolution. What are some of the other reasons that a case may not be prosecuted?
3. List some of the guidelines for effective testimony.
4. Discuss the discovery process and how it affects both the prosecution and defense.
5. Describe the impact of Brady v. Maryland (1963), also referred to as the Brady rule, on the prosecution and police.
6. Briefly outline the seven elements of the final report prepared by an investigating officer.
7. Discuss the Brady rule and how it relates to evidence in a criminal trial.
8. What should an officer plan to discuss with the prosecutor at a pretrial conference?
9. The text details eight guidelines for effective testimony in court, the first of which is to "speak clearly, firmly and with expression." List the other seven guidelines for effective testimony.
10. When should an investigator refer to his or her notes?
PART 2: Journal Activity
Directions: In a 2 to 4 page essay using APA guidelines for formatting and citations, please answer the prompt below. Be sure to answer each of the questions within your essay.
You are preparing a case for court as an officer assigned to a regional narcotics task force. As a result of arrests you made in this case, the prosecuting attorney has asked you to prepare several questions for her to ask the defendants in court. You will be sitting with the prosecutor in court to assist her. You will also be called to testify in the case as the arresting officer. What are the first steps you must take?
• What resources are available to you?
• What questions do you want to have the prosecutor ask?
• What information do you need in order to develop these questions?
• What are some of the pitfalls that might present themselves? How would you address these questions/scenarios?
• What are some of the questions the defense may ask? How would you prepare the prosecutor for those questions?
• As you will be offering testimony in the case, what will you have to do to prepare yourself for questions from the defense and the prosecution?
PART 3: Essay Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions. Your response to each should be at least one half of one page in length and use APA guidelines for formatting and citations.
1. Although there are numerous definitions of terrorism, identify some of the commonalities that exist between different forms of terrorism.
2. International terrorism is foreign based or directed by countries outside the United States against the United States. Name the three categories of international terrorism as categorized by the FBI.
3. Define CBR, a shorthand term used by law enforcement, and how it relates to terrorism.
4. Discuss the warning signs that may reveal a potential suicide bomber.
5. Discuss how the USA PATRIOT Act significantly improved the nation's counterterrorism efforts.
6. What are the two main concerns related to the war on terrorism? Explain each one briefly.
7. Describe what motivates most terrorist attacks. Briefly discuss motivations for both international and domestic terrorism.
8. Outline the main elements of the USA PATRIOT Act.
9. Describe how the intelligence cycle works, and how it is affected by the operational style of law enforcement.
10. Discuss whether community policing can be effective in the post-9/11 era, in terms of guarding against further terrorist attacks.
PART 4: Journal Activity
Directions: In a 2 to 4 page essay using APA guidelines for formatting and citations, please answer the prompt below. Be sure to answer each of the questions within your essay.
You are a detective assigned to a Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) consisting of local, state and federal officers. You are investigating border crossings on the Southern border of the United States. You have received information that there will be a border crossing of suspected Middle East terrorists within the next two weeks.
• What are the first steps you must take?
• What resources are available to you?
• What kind and types of intelligence do you want to gather?
• What information do you need?
• How would you prepare for a potential interview?