Background A significant criminal event may occur at any place and at any time. The size of the jurisdiction does not dictate the scope and scale of the incident. It is perfectly possible, even predictable, that investigative needs will be beyond the resources and/or sophistication of a local law enforcement agency. In such cases, one option is to expand the resources available through multiagency collaboration and cooperation (e.g., a task force). However, regardless of who or how many investigative resources are brought to bear on an incident, the parent agency remains responsible for the successful outcome of the criminal investigation. Project Setting Acting as a subject matter expert on criminal investigation, you have been asked to assist in the creation of a simulation exercise of a multijurisdictional criminal investigation. Some of the preliminary work has already been completed. Your specific task is to compile the post investigation review document (rubric) to be used by exercise assessors in their evaluation of the quality of the criminal investigation. This is what you know: A series of 11 random explosions have occurred in an area that traverses two states, and a total of seven counties (five counties in one state and two counties in the other state), embracing a total of nine cities and incorporated towns. The explosions resulted in five deaths, 32 injuries, and significant property damage. In each case, the explosion was detonated remotely. The lead investigative agency is the Virtual, Maryland, Police Department, because the first three explosions occurred within its jurisdiction. VPD has about 100 sworn personnel, including 17 all-purpose detective investigators. It has a certified forensic laboratory for rudimentary analysis, staffed by credentialed civilians. Ultimately, two suspects were identified and apprehended, one adult male and one teenage (minor) male. Statements were made by each, resulting in investigative searches and seizures of forensic evidence. Both subjects eventually confessed to their respective and collective parts in the crimes. Assessors in the simulation exercise will be debriefing the role players as to their actions; their understanding of the legal basis, purpose, and advantages and disadvantages of their investigative strategies; and the conduct of the investigation. The assessors have already come up with a series of questions for the participants. You have been asked to provide the "model" answer against which the responses of the participants will be graded. Following are the questions to be posed by the simulation exercise assessors to the investigators: Investigative Task Force Assuming that legal authority was not an issue, should this investigation be conducted by VPD personnel or a multijurisdictional task force? At what point should the potential of establishing an investigative task force be considered? What are the advantages and disadvantages of an investigative task force? Who, ...

1. Background
A significant criminal event may occur at any place and at any
time. The size of the jurisdiction does not dictate the scope and
scale of the incident. It is perfectly possible, even predictable,
that investigative needs will be beyond the resources and/or
sophistication of a local law enforcement agency. In such cases,
one option is to expand the resources available through
multiagency collaboration and cooperation (e.g., a task force).
However, regardless of who or how many investigative
resources are brought to bear on an incident, the parent agency
remains responsible for the successful outcome of the criminal
investigation.
Project Setting
Acting as a subject matter expert on criminal investigation, you
have been asked to assist in the creation of a simulation
exercise of a multijurisdictional criminal investigation. Some of
the preliminary work has already been completed. Your specific
task is to compile the post investigation review document
(rubric) to be used by exercise assessors in their evaluation of
the quality of the criminal investigation. This is what you know:
A series of 11 random explosions have occurred in an area that
traverses two states, and a total of seven counties (five counties
in one state and two counties in the other state), embracing a
total of nine cities and incorporated towns. The explosions
resulted in five deaths, 32 injuries, and significant property
damage. In each case, the explosion was detonated remotely.
The lead investigative agency is the Virtual, Maryland, Police
Department, because the first three explosions occurred within
its jurisdiction. VPD has about 100 sworn personnel, including
17 all-purpose detective investigators. It has a certified forensic
laboratory for rudimentary analysis, staffed by credentialed

2. civilians. Ultimately, two suspects were identified and
apprehended, one adult male and one teenage (minor) male.
Statements were made by each, resulting in investigative
searches and seizures of forensic evidence. Both subjects
eventually confessed to their respective and collective parts in
the crimes.
Assessors in the simulation exercise will be debriefing the role
players as to their actions; their understanding of the legal
basis, purpose, and advantages and disadvantages of their
investigative strategies; and the conduct of the investigation.
The assessors have already come up with a series of questions
for the participants. You have been asked to provide the
"model" answer against which the responses of the participants
will be graded.
Following are the questions to be posed by the simulation
exercise assessors to the investigators:
Investigative Task Force
Assuming that legal authority was not an issue, should this
investigation be conducted by VPD personnel or a
multijurisdictional task force?
At what point should the potential of establishing an
investigative task force be considered?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an investigative
task force?
Who, or what entities, should be involved in the decision to
create an investigative task force?
Assuming, on balance, that you favor a task force approach,
what difficulties do you foresee, and how will each be
addressed?
What demands and/or concessions should VPD exercise in order
to employ a cooperative task force in this particular case?
Legal Issues

3. 1. What legal issues should be considered when embarking on a
task force investigative strategy?
2. How are each of these issues resolved?
3. Forensic Evidence Collection and Analysis
Without regard to individual items of forensic evidence,
describe the steps necessary to ensure that items, materials, and
samples are eligible as forensic evidence in a criminal
proceeding.
Why?
In what ways do the evidence collection procedures differ at the
scenes of the explosions versus the residences of each of the
suspects?
4. Testimonial Evidence
1. Describe the steps necessary to ensure that verbal or written
communications from each of the suspects are eligible as
testimonial evidence in a criminal proceeding.
2. Describe the direct and indirect consequences if the
testimonial evidence is deemed inadmissible by the trial court.
5. Public Information
As the investigation proceeds, in general terms, what
information is or is not available to
non-VPD members of the task force?
other law enforcement agencies?
family members of the deceased and injured victims?
credentialed news reporters?
community members?
Who should be the point of contact for investigative
information, and how should that designation be decided?

4. Project Assignment
You will compose a comprehensive "model" response for each
of the questions posed by the simulation exercise assessors.
Note
: This project submission is enhanced by outside resources that
support the appropriateness of the model responses. Creditable
resources and citations (or lack thereof) will be graded
accordingly.
Grading for this project will be based on
the comprehensiveness of the model responses
your description of reasons and rationales for the responses
provided
your general understanding of cooperation and collaboration in
conducting criminal investigations
the clarity and efficiency of your writing
Review of this project will help the instructor determine your
ability to
communicate effectively across a wide variety of stakeholders
apply sound knowledge of administration, leadership, and
organizational principles to a law enforcement agency
use interpersonal and leadership skills to work both
independently and cooperatively as a member of a criminal
justice team
Format Requirements
Paper should be a minimum of 2,500 words