ABSTRACT
Chapter 15 addresses the initial stages of a sexual assault complaint. These investigations are best completed simultaneously in three parallel tracks consisting of the victim, the offender, and the crime scene. Because of the interest by the American public in the detective programs, a social phenomenon known as the crime scene investigation (CSI) effect has found itself into American court rooms, wherein the jury expect to see forensic evidence presented in the same manner as it is depicted on TV. The problem of course is that not all crime scenes have forensic evidence to present to them and therefore the detective or CSI must be prepared to explain why no evidence was collected. However, it is also critical to concentrate on the behavioral aspects of the event, what the offender did before, during, and after the event and their interaction with the victim. These are all important factors that will be used to identify the type of offenders involved in the case.
