The Criminal Investigation Process: Key Legal Terminologies

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The Criminal Investigation Process: Key Legal Terminologies * Investigation- for the police, this means carrying out research to discover evidence and examine the facts surrounding and alleged criminal incidents. * Arrest- to seize a person by legal authority and take them into custody. * Interrogate- to formally question a suspect in relation to an alleged crime. * Evidence- information used to support the facts in a legal investigation as testimony in court. * Charge- formal accusation of a person of committing a criminal offence. * Search and seizure- the power to search a person or their possessions and seize and detain items that are discovered. * Reasonable force- necessary for the officer to perform the function; the office must honestly believe that it’s justified. * Warrant- a legal document issued by magistrate authorising an officer to perform a particular act. * In situ- Latin term meaning ‘in the place.’ it is used to describe the place in which a piece of evidence is found or situated. * Inadmissible evidence- evidence that cannot be considered by a judge/jury in a court. * DNA evidence- genetic material that can be used to link a suspect with a crime scene or criminal offence. * Caution- a statement issued by police to a suspect when they are detained to inform them of their rights. * Summons- a legal document that states when and where a person must appear in court and if they are the accused, the