Page 45 - CFDI Guide

THE INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOL:

Prepare, Inquire, Analyze, Document & Report

Every investigation – every assignment within, and every task further within – in some fashion follows an
Investigative Protocol. You may have developed your own, adapted from resources, or naturally learned in

your on-the-job experience (something we all do daily). The CDITC Component Method is an investigative
protocol developed specifically for the criminal defense investigator and the CCDI program. You will find

many similarities between them all – organization, thoroughness, and completing the investigation. Here
we will review the Investigative Protocol developed by our agency for all legal investigations, and

presented in Dean’s textbook – “Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil
1
and Criminal Cases”. The book is comprehensive to the protocol, and we do have a more detailed webinar
module available. The following outline is presented only as a reminder and guide.

I. THE INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOL 2
As previously noted, the process of investigation is conducted and completed by following five basic steps,

3
for CCDIs, the CDITC Component Method: Prepare, Inquire, Analyze, Document and Report . Depending on
the investigation and other factors, these may all be within one assignment (i.e. scene investigation) or
multiple assignments (multiple witness interviews).

The following steps follow the five-step Investigative Protocol in documenting an incident scene.

1. Prepare
• Be fully informed – review all associated records and reports. Speaking with witnesses and other

involved persons before or after the scene investigation is dependent on case needs,
circumstances and preferences.

• Be fully equipped – have all necessary equipment in advance and in proper working order,
including familiarity with the functions and capabilities.

• Review the scene from the perimeter in. Being familiar with the scene and circumstances assists

with planning the steps, order of steps and equipment needed.

1 Practical Methods for Legal Investigations (Dean A. Beers, CLI – CRC Press 2011 -
www.PracticalMethodsForLegalInvestigations.com
2 Adapted from ‘Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases’, Dean
A. Beers, CLI – CRC Press, 2011
3 Adapted from ‘Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases’, Dean
A. Beers, CLI – CRC Press, 2011
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