Detectives and their work

Ø 1) Read and translate the sentences in italics into Russian.

In most American police departments, a candidate for detective must have served as a uniformed officer for a period of one to five years before becoming qualified for the position. Prospective British police detectives must have completed two years as a uniformed officer before applying to join the Criminal Investigation Department. In European police systems, most detectives are university graduates who join directly from civilian life without first serving as uniformed officers. In fact, many European police experts cannot understand why British, American and Commonwealth police forces insist on recruiting their detectives from the ranks of uniformed officers, arguing that they do a completely different job and therefore require completely different training, qualifications, qualities and abilities. The opposing argument is that without previous service as a uniformed patrol officer a detective cannot have a great enough command of standard police procedures and problems and will find it difficult to work with uniformed colleagues.

Detectives obtain their position by competitive examination, covering such subjects as:

· principles, practices, and procedures of investigations and interrogation;

· local criminal law and procedures;

· applicable law governing arrests, search and seizures, warrants, and evidence;

· police department records and reports;

· principles, practices and objectives of courtroom testimony;

· police department methods and procedures.

Private detectives are licensed by the state in which they live after passing a competitive examination and a criminal background check. Some states in the USA, such as Maryland, require a period of classroom training as well.

Detectives have a wide variety of techniquesavailable in conducting investigations. However, the majority of cases are solved by interrogation of suspects and witnesses, which takes time. In a policeman’s career as a uniformed officer and as a detective, a detective develops an intuitive sense of the plausibility of suspect and witness accounts. This intuition may fail at times, but usually is reliable.

Besides interrogations, detectives may rely on a network of informants he/she has cultivated over the years. Informants often have connections with persons a detective would not be able to approach formally.

In criminal investigations, once a detective has a suspect or suspects in mind, the next step is to produce evidence that will stand up in a court of law. The best way is to obtain a confessionfrom the suspect, usually in exchange for a plea bargain for a lesser sentence. A detective may lie or otherwise mislead and may psychologically pressure a suspect into confessing, though in the United States a suspect may invoke his/her Miranda rights.

Physical forensic evidencein an investigation may provide leads to closing a case. Examples of physical evidence can be, but are not limited to:

· fingerprinting of objects persons have touched;

· DNA analysis;

· luminal to detect blood stains that have been washed;

· footprints or tire tracks;

· chemical testing for the presence of narcotics or expended gun propellant;

· the exact position of objects at the scene of an investigation.

Many major police departments in a city, county, or state, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, maintain their own forensic laboratories. Detectives may use public and private records to provide background information on a subject. These include:

· fingerprint records. In the United States, the FBI maintains records of people who have committed felonies and some misdemeanors, all persons who have applied for a Federal security clearance, and all persons who have served in the U.S. armed forces;

· records of criminal arrests and convictions;

· photographs (mug shots) of persons arrested;

· motor vehicle records;

· credit card records and bank statements;

· hotel registration cards;

· credit reports;

· answer machine messages.

The finding, collecting, and preservation of physical evidence are the most important phases in a criminal investigation. There is no such thing as a perfect crime, a crime that leaves no traces – there is only the inability to find the evidence. The most valuable evidence may be worthless if inefficiently handled. Physical evidence is of value only if it helps prove a case or clear a suspect.

Ø 2) In the text the writer uses the following phrase: “The most valuable evidence may be worthless if inefficiently handled.” What does it mean?

Ø 3) Indicate the differences between the American, British and European practice of applying for a detective.

Ø 4) What subjects are included in competitive examinations for detectives to get their position?