Criminal investigation

Criminal investigation is the systematic gathering and evaluation of evidence to determine whether a crime occurred, identify suspected offenders, and support legal proceedings.

Crime scene: A location where a crime occurred or where evidence relevant to it may be found. Investigators document and preserve this place before searching it for physical evidence.
Corpus delicti: The facts establishing that a specific crime occurred, rather than merely that someone confessed. Investigators must establish the criminal act independently of attributing it to a suspect.
Fingerprint: A pattern of ridges on a fingertip that can be compared for identification. Latent prints recovered from objects can associate people with places or items.
Criminal prosecution: The legal process by which the state brings and pursues criminal charges against an accused person. Investigation develops material for prosecution, which must prove charges in court.
Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution: The constitutional provision limiting unreasonable searches and seizures by the U.S. government. Search-and-seizure rules shape which investigative methods are lawful in the United States.
Crime scene investigation: The documented examination and collection of evidence from a location connected to a crime. It converts a scene’s traces into recorded, testable evidence.
Evidence: Information or material used to support or challenge a factual claim in a legal proceeding. Investigation gathers evidence and assesses what it can establish.
DNA profiling: The analysis of selected DNA regions to distinguish biological samples among individuals. Biological traces can be compared with reference samples to include or exclude a person.
Criminal trial: A formal court proceeding in which criminal charges are adjudicated under rules of evidence and procedure. A trial tests admissible evidence publicly rather than simply collecting investigative leads.
Miranda warning: A notice of constitutional rights required before certain custodial interrogations in the United States. The warning governs the admissibility of statements obtained during qualifying interrogations.

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