Goal #3 Objective D

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Objective D:
Without the use of course text or class notes, the student will identify methods used to link physical evidence, people, and records and files.

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As you can see, many investigations can become very complex. Details must be attended to with regard to people, physical evidence, and records and files.

As we have seen in many recent cases (i.e. Simpson, Ramsey, and others), when investigators don't attend to the details, prosecutions suffer. In fact it can have a direct bearing on whether or not a suspect is even arrested.

One method that can be used to track people, physical evidence, and records and files is a link analysis chart (also called a social network analysis and network of investigative paths ).

link analysis chart-
A systematic method of organizing large amounts of information about people, physical evidence, and records and files.

The idea is to provide an easily understandable visual representation of complicated relationships or transactions between people, physical evidence and records and files.

Uses of a link analysis chart:

• investigator tracking of investigative operations
  
• effective visual aid for briefings and other oral presentations
  
• control information flow in complex investigations
  

Preparation for Link Diagram

Assemble all raw investigative information

• crime reports
  
• physical evidence reports
  
• record and file check results
  
• wiretap transcripts
  
• witness statements
  
• surveillance reports
  
• newspaper clippings
  
• legal documents
  
• internal memoranda
  

Choose headings for the chart, usually physical evidence, people, records & files.

Assign a number to each piece of evidence, each person and each record & file result.

List the physical evidence, people and record and file results under each heading by number.

Connect the physical evidence, people, and record & file results by lines solid lines showing definite connections and dotted lines showing possible connections.

association matrix -
A matrix showing links and possible links between persons.

Preparation for association diagram

• Assemble all raw investigative information
  
• Choose data points for the chart, usually names and organizations
  
• List names alphabetically
  
• Draft an association matrix
  
• list data points as headings on the diagonal axis in alphabetical order
  
• mark the association points on the matrix using a dark dot at intersecting points for a strong link and an open circle at intersecting points for evidence of some link
  
• Count the number of links with each name
  
• Starting with the names with the highest, number of links draw a link diagram
  
• use solid lines to represent relationships indicated by dark dots
  
• use dotted lines to represent relationships represented by open circles
  
• use straight lines only
  
• avoid allowing lines to cross each other
  
• use rectangles to represent organizations
  
• use circle to represent people
  
• associate persons with organizations by placing the circle inside a rectangle where appropriate
  
• to differentiate between different types of relationships, use different colors on the lines
  
• Review and clarify your matrix periodically
  
• Label the matrix
  

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Continue to Goal #4.
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