Criminal Investigations

When police investigate a crime, they look for clues and they interview people who were close to the crime victim. If they get a “suspect”, they go about confirming the facts. If they find nothing, they set the first suspect aside and start investigating the next suspect.

Police prefer physical evidence to place a suspect at the scene of the crime. They love to have DNA samples to compare with the DNA database. If they have DNA confirmed, they question the matched suspect. They confirm their case with the District Attorney and make an arrest. The Prosecutor must prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt”.

Crime Scene Investigators gather fingerprints, DNA, cell and phone records to determine if suspects had “opportunity”. Detectives investigate to determine “motive” and criminal background. Suspects and witnesses are referred to as “persons of interest and are questioned. Suspects who have neither motive or opportunity are dropped from the Suspect List.

Suspects who are deemed innocent are given a pass with their associates and the general public. There is no stigma attached to being an innocent suspect. The process can be time consuming for suspects, but being a suspect isn’t in itself damaging.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader