Investigative Resources by Topic

Investigative Resources

The NRTAC compiles investigative resources produced by various criminal justice organizations, researchers, and practitioners. We provide publications, web resources, and information about organizations, such as Spotlight, that provide assistance to law enforcement in their investigations.

Basic Investigations

Eyewitness Evidence: A Guide for Law Enforcement, NIJ (PDF)
High Tech Crime Investigations, SEARCH: The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics (Webpage)
Video Evidence: A Law Enforcement Guide to Resources and Best Practices, BJA (PDF)

Case Management

Criminal Case Management Assessment Report, VRN (Webpage)

Child Abuse Investigations

Law Enforcement Response to Child Abuse, OJJDP (PDF)
Child Forensic Interviewing: Best Practices, OJJDP (PDF)

Cold Case Homicide Investigations

Cold Case Investigations, Davis, Jensen & Kitchens (PDF)
Cold Cases: Resources for Agencies, Resolution for Families, Heurich (PDF)
Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases, NIJ (PDF)

Community Relations

Importance of Police-Community Relationships and Resources for Further Reading, DOJ Community Relations Service (PDF)

Computer Crimes Investigations

The Changing Nature of Crime And Criminal Investigations, PERF (PDF)
National Domestic Communications Assistance Center (PDF)
Investigations Involving the Internet and Computer Networks, NIJ (PDF)
Electronic Crime Scene Investigation, NIJ (PDF)
Forensic Examination of Digital Evidence, NIJ (PDF)

Crime Scene Investigations

Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement, BJA (PDF)
Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement, NIJ (PDF)

Financial Crimes Investigations

Financial Investigations Guide, DOJ (PDF)
Fact Sheet: Financial Investigations Program, BJA (PDF)

Forensic Science

National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE)

The NIJ FTCoE is committed to improving the practice and strengthening the impact of forensic science through rigorous technology corroboration, evaluation, and adoption; effective knowledge transfer and education; and comprehensive dissemination of best practices and guidelines to agencies dedicated to combating crime.

Gang Investigations

2015 National Gang Report, National Gang Intelligence Center (PDF)
Publications and National Youth Gang Surveys, National Gang Center (Website)
Gang Prosecution Manual, OJJDP (PDF)
Comprehensive Gang Model, OJJDP (PDF)

Homicide Investigations

Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP), FBI (Program Brochure)
BJA Homicide Mapping Guide, Carter (PDF)
Clearing up Homicide Clearance Rates, Wellford & Cronin (PDF)
New Orleans PD Homicide Unit Assessment 2011, BJA (PDF)
Promoting Effective Homicide Investigations, Cronin et al. (PDF)
Strategies to Improve Homicide Investigations and Increase Clearance Rates, Carter & Russell (PDF)
10 Things Law Enforcement Executives Can Do To Positively Impact Homicide Investigation Outcomes, BJA & IACP (PDF)
Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator, NIJ (PDF)
- Technical Update (PDF)

Human Trafficking Investigations

Understanding and Improving Law Enforcement Responses to Human Trafficking: Final Report, Farrell et al. (PDF)

Spotlight – A Tool to Improve Sex Trafficking Investigations

Spotlight is a web-based application that helps law enforcement prioritize leads in their sex trafficking investigations. There are over 150,000 escort ads posted daily, and Spotlight takes this massive amount of data and turns it into an asset for law enforcement.

Access is available for free to law enforcement agencies and can be requested at: htspotlight.com

Investigative Best Practices