The Role of Criminal Investigation in Effective Prosecution

Court prosecutor Susan Corcoran from Milton, Massachusetts graduated from Boston’s Suffolk Law School with a juris doctorate. Prosecutor Susan Corcoran works as an assistant district attorney in the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office in Brockton, where she assists in preparing court cases, which entails conducting criminal investigations.

A criminal investigation is a process of collecting and analyzing evidence to determine the facts of a crime and locate the suspects and perpetrators. The purpose of carrying out a criminal investigation is to acquire enough evidence to support the case’s prosecution in court, ultimately securing a conviction.

Prosecutors always take the lead role in investigations and hold the authority to direct the judicial police during the criminal investigative phase. In the investigation process, a prosecutor first secures an arrest warrant for the accused in court and then a search warrant to collect evidence.
The prosecutor may also obtain a police custody remand for the accused’s custodial questioning.

Upon completing the investigation, public prosecutors provide a comprehensive and detailed report on the case. These reports are critical to successful prosecution because they offer the evidence and information required to locate, capture, and convict criminal perpetrators.

By gathering accurate and reliable evidence, investigators can ensure that prosecutors have a complete picture of the crime and its offenders. Furthermore, criminal investigation aids in the development of solid cases against defendants, which can lead to convictions in court. This can also serve as a deterrent to future criminal behavior.