The Complete Idiot's Guide to Criminal Investigation 1st Edition

by Alan Axelrod Ph.D. (Author), Guy Antinozzi J.D. (Author), Alan Axelrod (Author),

23 ratings

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Alan Axelrod Ph.D.
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Paperback
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Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alpha; 1st edition (July 24, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0028643461
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0028643465
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.48 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.38 x 0.89 x 9.08 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,081,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #167 in Civil Law (Books)
- #520 in Jurisprudence (Books)
- #709 in Forensic Science Law

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23 ratings

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Ahgie

Criminal Investigation Primer

Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2002

Verified Purchase

What a wonderful book for the layman, the beginner cop, the security guard, law student, or any other para-police professional. The book covers both the developmental history and the modern practical application of criminal investigation practices. Topics range from time tested investigation tactics through today's highly sophisticated forensic techniques. While investigatory theory is discussed, the book is rooted in day-to-day police work.

9 people found this helpful

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Caren

very helpful

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2014

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I bought this book to assist my sister and I in writing our first novel, a murder mystery. It has been a most helpful research item.

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2016

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JUST arrived a day before and besides a little wear and tear, can't wait to read it!

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Jaeger

Good info. Very informative

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2016

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Good info. Very informative.

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2015

Verified Purchase

Shipped quickly and great price!

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2005

Verified Purchase

Very well written and clear book on the procedures for criminal investigations. Great reference book for anyone aspiring to write crime novels!

7 people found this helpful

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James B. Johnson

An Over-view of the Subject.

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2006

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For my purposes the book is a waste of time. If you know pretty much nothing about the subject, it's okay. But the author's schemata is not standard practice. One of the other reviewers noted that the book doesnt address the realities of the criminal justice system, and theyre correct. Criminal Justice is not CSI or LAW & ORDER. It's more like Kabuki Theatre, where the players act-out rigid roles and the truth be damned. I'm thinking of a local event where the victim phones 911 when a rapist comes into her home, the police refuse to even search the residence when they respond, and after she's raped the detective insists she made the whole thing up. Except she didnt. Lawsuits for incompetence cost police departments fortunes. I suppose if PDs used some sort of script to do their work it would be something like what this book offers.

7 people found this helpful

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Ralph E. Vaughan

A Clear & Concise Guide to all Matters Criminal

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2013

Most textbooks cover either criminology or criminalistics (forensics), but, then, this book is not a textbook, nor does it present itself as one. It is a guidebook to the fields of criminology, criminalistics and law enforcement, much in the same way as a Baedeker is a guide to a certain locality -- you'll learn just enough of the customs, language and history not to embarrass yourself. For example, you'll not learn how to work a crime scene, but you'll learn enough to know when one is not being worked correctly on a TV show or in a novel. You'll not learn how to administer a polygraph examination, but you'll learn how a polygraph works, what it is (and is not) used for, and what role it can play in an investigation and subsequent court trial.

The information is presented in a very logical and orderly fashion, laying a broad base upon which to build specialized knowledge. Peppered throughout the text are easily digested quotes and illustrative examples. All the fields of study are presented within an historical context, and traces the development of the field. With criminology, for instance, we begin with the idea of crime equating with sin, move through the "bad seed" idea, examine the development of modern theories that arose in the 18th century, then touch upon all the various reasons and excuses from crime that passed in and out of vogue with changing social and political views. Although all the subjects of the field are covered, as well as most of the personalities, I found the omission of Dr Karl Menninger and Dr Robert Hare to be inexplicable considering the role played by Menninger in social criminology and penology, and Hare in developing base studies in detecting and profiling the sociopath.

While this book would not be of much use to someone working toward a criminology or criminal justice degree (it lacks the depth that only specialized textbooks can provide), it's perfect for the generalist looking for a jumping-off place into the field, the student to whom criminal justice would only be an associated field (e.g., sociology or political science), the concerned citizen wanting to become more knowledgeable about law enforcement matters, and the writer who wants to avoid egregious errors when penning a whodunit or a police procedural. However, even a seasoned criminologist will find this book useful as a quick and easy reference to aspects of the field learned in school long ago.

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