Specialization in Criminal Investigation

Homicide is not the most frequently committed crime, but it is the one that attracts the most media attention and the most serious, especially when it is considered murder. This subject examines the usual procedures in the investigation of these crimes. Profiling techniques used in the capture of serial killers are studied. The particularities of sexual homicides are also addressed. In addition, three scientific disciplines are included that provide very valuable data for criminal investigation: Edaphology, Palynology, and Entomology. Some of the topics addressed are:

HOMOCIDE TYPOLOGY

Sexual. Unknown. Organized. Multiple homicides. Ritual and/or sectarianism. Honor. Terrorism and political motives. For various reasons. Domestic violence.

POLICE INVESTIGATION OF HOMICIDES

The ocular inspection. Witness statements. Forensic report. Operational research. Criminal profiling techniques.

INVESTIGATION OF SERIAL CRIMINALS. PROFILING TECHNIQUES

FBI methodology. The British model. The VERA method. Geographic profiling.

SEXUAL HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

Causes of death in sexual homicide. Modalities of sexual assault and visual inspection. Types of sexual homicide.

FORENSIC PEDOLOGY

Forensic Palynology Potential. Location of palynomorphs. What palynomorphs report.

FORENSIC PALYNOLOGY

FBI methodology. The British model. The VERA method. Geographic profiling.

FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY

Historical background. Applications, objectives, bases, and principles of Forensic Entomology. The death squads, according to P. Mégnin. Decomposition process. Succession of insects on the corpse. General study of the cadaveric fauna. Determination of time of death.

In this subject, in addition to general investigative issues, specific techniques such as interrogation, surveillance and monitoring, and police intelligence are studied. The investigation of theft crimes, cybercrimes, and organized crime are also discussed. Some of the topics included are:

GENERALITIES OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Proof of the crime. Types of tests. Evolution of the test. Clues and traces. Police treatment of material evidence. Chain of custody. Investigation of crimes.

ROBERY INVESTIGATION

The first questions to ask in a robbery case. General observations on this type of crime. Signs of violence in the locks. Other ways of opening locks. Thefts from safes. Thefts with fracture. Broken glass examination.

INVESTIGATION OF TELEMATIC CRIMES

Obtaining the first evidence. Technological research. Securing of electronic evidence. Incrimination phase.

INVESTIGATION OF ORGANIZED CRIME

International organized crime. Operational research techniques. Money laundering.

INTERROGATORY

Definition and purpose of an interrogatory. Prohibited techniques. Characteristics of the interrogator. The place of interrogation. Number of interrogators. Characteristics of the person being questioned. Interrogation of witnesses. Interrogation of the victim. Difficulties in interrogating suspects. Preparation and planning of the suspect's interrogation. Interrogation strategies and techniques. Particularities of the interrogation of terrorists. Reid interrogation technique.

SURVEILLANCE AND MONITORING

Phases of surveillance and follow-up. Most frequent defects in monitoring. Examples of signals used in surveillance and monitoring.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE

Phases of police intelligence. Obtaining information through informers and collaborators. Example of a terrorist group file. Use of ICTs.

Police ballistics is a branch of general ballistics that is specifically dedicated to the study of weapons and cartridges from the police point of view, divided into interior, exterior, and effects ballistics. A central task of police ballistics is the study of the so-called caliber of a weapon. Therefore, this subject is focused on training in general and police ballistics, weapons, cartridges, and calibers, applicable to modern ballistics laboratories, necessary for research. Some of the topics included are:

INTRODUCTION TO POLICE BALLISTICS

Basic classification of ballistics. Introduction to the concept of weapons. Technical concept of weapon. Firearms. Modern percussion systems. Introduction to firearms safety. Safety rules in the shooting gallery.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF WEAPONS

Weapons classification based on gunpowder. Classification of weapons according to their use. Definition of firearms by the CIP.

CRIMINALISTICS CLASSIFICATION OF PORTABLE FIREARMS

By the length of the weapon. By its charging and ignition procedure. By its autonomy. By its percussion. By the number of cannons. By its caliber. By its bore. By the purpose of use or employment.

THE BARREL OF FIREARMS

Rifling characteristics. The polygonal canyon. Weapon and cartridge measurements. Identification data and name. Smoothbore firearms.

CARTRIDGE

Metal cartridge. Semi-metallic cartridge. Projectiles for smoothbore weapons. Special cartridges.

INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL BALLISTICS

Interior ballistics. External ballistics. Effects or terminal ballistics. Identifying ballistics. Current problems of ballistics.

In this subject, we will study the training of A fire investigator, the criminal factors that allow us to know the motivations of arson, the basic concepts necessary for the investigation, and the development of visual inspection. Some of the topics included are:

QUALITIES OF A GOOD INVESTIGATOR

Motivations for arson.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF FIRE THEORY NECESSARY FOR FIRE INVESTIGATION

FIRE SOURCES AND ORIGIN

The role of devices in fire initiation. The role of hot and glowing elements. Critical factors of an arson fire to distinguish between the work of a professional and an amateur.

FIRE IN BUILDINGS

Fire pattern and trend in buildings. Who investigates a fire?

OCULAR INSPECTION

Objectives and purposes of the fire ocular inspection. Measures prior to the visual inspection. Methodology of the ocular inspection.

STUDY OF FIRE ORIGINS AND PHASES

Method to choose for the study of the beginning of the fire. Data collection. Location of the source or point of origin of the fire. Determination of fire phases. Objective elements. Examination of debris.

CAUSES OF FIRES

Study of natural or accidental causes. Indications of intentionality in a fire. Material necessary to carry out an ocular inspection.

OPERATIONAL FIRE INVESTIGATION

Planning of an arson investigation focused on private investigators.

INVESTIGATION OF FIRES IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND AUTOMOBILES

In this subject, we will study the training of a fire investigator when there are explosions and forest fires, as well as the preparation of samples to carry out their study. Some of the topics included are:

FIRES WITH EXPLOSIONS

Concept of explosive and explosion. Types of explosions. Investigation of gas fires accompanied by explosion. Explosive range of gases. Density of gases. Other aspects related to explosion cases. Flashover effect. Gas leaks. Ignition source in an explosion.

OCULAR INSPECTION IN FIRES WITH EXPLOSIONS

Structure and organization at the scene. Investigation of evidence at the scene of the crime. Damage to objects. Visual inspection itself. Laboratory study of explosives. Forensic medical autopsy in the case of explosions.

INTRODUCTION TO FOREST FIRES

Types of forest fires. Phases of a forest fire. Critical ignition temperature of vegetables and their propagation speed. Factors that determine the behavior of a forest fire. The effects of a forest fire. Circumstances of risk for a forest fire. Signs and indicators marking the direction followed by the fire. Contribution of witnesses to the investigation of a forest fire.

CAUSES, METHODOLOGY, AND DETECTION OF FOREST FIRES

REPORT PREPARATION

Principles. Structuring. Operational research. Summary with evaluation and discussion of the results. Conclusions of the report. Example of a report. Study of the fire at the Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions of Madrid.

LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES COLLECTED AND PARAMETERS TO BE STUDIED

Samples studied in a laboratory. Combustion accelerants and flammable liquids. Signs indicating the temperatures achieved in a fire. Relationship between metals and their melting temperature. Heat signatures on shiny metals. Fire behavior of combustible materials. Danger of fuel in relation to its ignition. Other factors influencing combustibility.

STUDY OF FUELS

Combustible gases and liquids. Combustible solids. The coefficient of expansion.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Explosive products. Gases. Flammables and combustibles. Combustible or oxidizing substances. Toxic and infectious substances. Radioactive products. Corrosive substances. Products with multiple risks. Identification and marking of hazardous materials. Action plan in case of an accident. BLEVE. Hazardous waste control.

The main objective of this subject is to teach the student the design of buildings and their safety measures, developing the analytical capacity to be able to assess how a building is designed to fight fire. Some of the topics covered are:

INTRODUCTION TO THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY BUILDINGS AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

Public assembly buildings. Characteristics of public places. Some special considerations. Risks of premises with public concurrence. Some concepts related to security. Educational institutions.

HOSPITAL INSTITUTIONS

Purposes of buildings used as hospital institutions. Sources of ignition. Fire load. Disposable materials. Data processing and medical records. The severity of a fire. Construction. Subdivisions of the spaces of a building. Protection of vertical openings. Exits design. Characteristics of the exit routes. Signaling and illumination of the exit routes. Fire alarm. Fire extinguishing equipment. Smoke control. Hazardous area protection. Building services facilities. Emergency planning. Nursing homes and shelters.

PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Penitentiary buildings. The fire problem. The security problem. Planning and training operations.

HOTELS, GUEST HOUSES, AND SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS

APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND OTHER TYPES OF DWELLINGS

Building characteristics. Risks of buildings according to their use. Human security. Prefabricated and recreational mobile homes. Recreational vehicles.

COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE BUILDINGS

STORAGE OF GASES AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS

RGas containers. Gas storage safety. Storage and handling of chemical products. Corrosive products. Radioactive materials. Materials susceptible to self-heating. Transportation of chemical products. Chemical waste disposal.

STORAGE AND HANDLING OF GRAINS AND DERIVATIVES

This subject studies the general and main characteristics of explosives, as well as the fundamental principles of an investigation in an explosive attack. Some of the topics included are:

CONCEPTOS ELEMENTALES DE FÍSICA, QUÍMICA Y ELECTRICIDAD

GENERALITIES ABOUT EXPLOSIVES

Characteristics of explosives. Classification of explosives. Industrial and military explosives.

FIREWORKS

Pyrotechnic devices. Electrical devices. Terrorist devices.

INVESTIGATION AND SEARCH FOR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES

Correspondence and parcels. Explosion safety measures in sensitive buildings and facilities. Considerations about the power of explosives. Use of detectors.

ACTION AND ORGANIZATION IN THE EVENT OF AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

Cause of bomb threats. Types and nature of communications. Operational performance. Rules to follow in case of evacuation due to a bomb threat. Treatment of incidents involving explosive devices.

EXPLOSIVE INJURIES

Pathogenesis of injuries. Mechanism of action. Explosions in mines. Medical-legal issues.

NEUTRALIZATION OF EXPLOSIVE DEVICES

Device deactivation. Lifting and removal of artifacts. Destruction of explosives.

INVESTIGATION AT THE EXPLOSION SITE

First measures. Visual inspection. Determination of the etiology of the event. Explosives analysis in the laboratory.

From the point of view of criminalistics, a forensic doctor assists judges and courts in the administration of justice by determining the origin of injuries sustained by a wounded person or the cause of death by examining a corpse, by studying the medical aspects derived from the daily practice of the courts of justice (e.g., maltreatment or forensic sexology), where they act as expert witnesses. Therefore, the main objective of the subject is to teach the student the development of legal medicine and its fundamental bases. Some of the topics included are:

INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL MEDICINE

Generalities of legal medicine. Study of death. Signs of death due to the establishment of cadaveric phenomena. Signs of death due to cessation of vital functions. Phenomena produced by death at the eye level. Final considerations in the diagnosis of death. Study of cadaveric cooling. Study of cadaveric dehydration. Study of cadaveric lividity. Study of visceral hypostasis. Study of cadaveric rigidity.

DESTRUCTIVE AND CONSERVATIVE PROCESSES OF THE CORPSE

DEATH. DATING AND CAUSES

Definition of death and its variants. The dying process. The dating of the time of death. Dating of death by forensic entomology. Study of sudden death. Fatal injuries. Differences produced before or after death. Diagnostic tests to distinguish vital and postmortal injuries.

SUICIDE

Medical-legal problems in suicide. Mechanisms that can lead to suicide. Self-injury. Injuries caused by defense and fighting.

CONTUSIONS

Study of simple contusions. Study of complex contusions.

WOUNDS CAUSED BY STAB WOUNDS

Suicidal, homicidal, or accidental origin of stab wounds.

BURNS

Classification of burns. Death due to burns. Cadaveric carbonization. Autopsy of death by burns. Dating of burns. Finding whether the subject was at the scene of the fire.

ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS

Electrocution. Fulgurations. Injuries caused by caustic agents.

ASPHIXIAS

Mechanical asphyxia.

CHILD MALTREATMENT

CHILD MALTREATMENT

SEXOLOGICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE

Deviations of the sexual instinct. Paraphilias. Sexual assaults. Etiological circumstances of sexual aggressions. Sexual assaults in young children. Marriage from the legal point of view. Forensic medicine of the newborn.