Criminal Investigation

Criminal Investigation, 12th Edition, authored by Kären Hess and released through Cengage Learning, is a comprehensive textbook detailing essential protocols for field inquiries and evidence collection. The volume establishes foundational principles of criminal justice while directly connecting legal requirements to active investigative practices across diverse criminal cases and environments.

Technological and scientific themes cover forensic science methods, physical evidence evaluation, and significant advancements in DNA evidence processing. In addition, the text addresses contemporary digital evidence gathering by establishing operational standards for conducting electronic data searches and managing visual records obtained from officer body cameras during official investigations.

Ethical and statutory considerations form a central component of the instructional material, emphasizing formal legal standards of proof alongside professional ethics across varied operational settings. The text further incorporates specialized security topics, examining specific investigative responses to terrorism and homeland security concerns to prepare students for contemporary public safety roles.