ABSTRACT
An investigator's responsibility is far from over with the arrest of one or more suspects. Pure theorists may argue that once the investigator has introduced the defendant to the judicial system, his job is done. However, this theoretical approach flies in the face of reality. A good investigator attentively follows a case through to its end. Preparing for and undergoing cross-examination by a skilled defense attorney is hardly an experience that can be accurately described by theorists; it is the type of experience that must be endured to be appreciated. The trial is the point in an investigation when many months of rigorous digging, persuading, interviewing, and analysis are put to the test. To think that an investigator has no vested interest in its outcome is ludicrous: the sleepless nights and countless hours on the telephone and in the field, gorged with coffee, seeking leads, and double-checking information hardly represent a fleeting interest.
