Solutions

Major Investigations

Major investigations are carried out by dedicated teams within law enforcement agencies that include analysts, investigators and support staff. Cases that become major investigations include high-profile murders and serial and organized crimes.

A major investigation can quickly become a complex maze of meaningless disparate data. i2 assists analysts and investigators assigned to major investigations by providing tools that capture and organize multi-source data, discover the hidden connections in the data and communicate the results.

In a major investigation, investigators must organize and log all data captured from a variety of sources. iBase can be used to easily create a database that logs, organizes and manages all the information received during a major investigation, including:

• Witness statements
• Neighborhood canvass reports
• Known associates
• Vehicle information
• Financial data and transaction information
• Phone call data

iBase enables you to rationalize and collate all types of data from a diverse range of sources into a single coherent structure.

Because iBase can be populated quickly and is easily adapted for all types of data, the database grows with the investigation. An investigation template can be used to quickly create the database, "datasheets" allow for rapid entry from data operators, and iBase automatically checks each item entered to guard against duplicate data. iBase includes full query and reporting capabilities and allows appropriate access to information by all members of a major investigation team.

As data are captured from various sources and organized, investigators need to clearly understand which pieces of information are relevant, how they relate to each other, and what it means to their case.

Investigators and analysts assigned to major cases can use Analyst's Notebook to uncover hidden links in their data and focus on the most likely suspects. Analyst's Notebook is commonly used in major investigations to help:

• Identify new investigation targets
• Clarify significant links, patterns and dates
• Reveal the structure of a criminal organization
• Produce timely information for investigative decision makers

Using Analyst's Notebook, analysts can apply a variety of analytical techniques to build a picture of the people, organizations and events involved in a major crime including: link, telephone, timeline and financial analysis.

Timeline charts are used to show significant dates and times, where information is inconsistent or where accounts diverge.

Charts can be printed and placed on a wall, for easy simultaneous viewing by all members of a team or viewed electronically.

The charts generated by these analytical techniques not only help establish relationships and focus the investigation, but they also have a hidden benefit — all the source information is documented on cards behind each link and entity on the chart, or through a direct link to the investigative database. This ensures that when the legal process begins all documentary evidence is organized and substantiates the charts.

The progress and details of a major investigation may make perfect sense to those that have spent months putting them together, but bringing others up to date can be challenging and time consuming.

Analyst's Notebook not only provides powerful analysis, it also generates charts that have proven effective in quickly communicating complex cases to team members, prosecutors and juries. Major investigation team members who do not have access to Analyst's Notebook can be briefed with printed charts or electronically using i2's free ChartReader.

Request more information on i2 software today!