Breaking Down Assault Crimes: From Investigation to Timeline
Houston, TX Attorney Greg Tsioros contacted me a few weeks ago. When I read his breakdown of assault crimes, I couldn't wait to share it with you. If you're writing about cops, criminals, or lawyers, this post offers fantastic information. For non-writers, I think you'll also find it fascinating. Enjoy!
The California Department of Safety reported that the number of aggravated assaults in 2012 was high compared to other crimes. According to the statistics, the number of aggravated assaults was 94,432 compared to 7,828 forcible rapes, and 1,878 homicides. Aggravated assaults are divided into misdemeanors or simple assaults, and felonies or serious assaults.
What is Aggravated Assault?
The definition of aggravated assault varies depending on the state you reside in. Typically, aggravated assault is determined through assessing the intention of the accused, whether a weapon was used, and the condition of the victim. In most cases, aggravated assault is considered if an attack is against a law enforcement officer or a public official. Aggravated assault is also considered when a person uses a knife, blunt object (hammer, rock, brick, etc.), gun, or any lethal weapon that is likely to cause serious injuries or even disfigure or kill the victim.
Some common examples of aggravated assault are:
- Assaulting a person and causing them serious injuries
- Assaulting a person while concealing one's identity
- Assaulting a senior person or a disabled adult
- Assaulting a respected public official such as a police man, social worker, or healthcare provider
- Threatening to harm or kill a person while pointing a lethal weapon at them
Investigating Aggravated Assault
The duty of a criminal investigator includes liaising with the district attorney or prosecutor to provide evidence, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the nature and elements of the crime qualifies as an aggravated assault. Officers investigating aggravated assaults normally follow a specific protocol when investigating the crime.
The kind of action taken by investigators and the material attained depends on whether a reactive or proactive method is used for investigations. Both methods follow similar stages but the due to the varying nature of investigations, each case may use a different route. For example, in some cases the offender's identity is clear and the investigation jumps the initial stages and begins at the suspect management phase. In other cases, the offender's identity is not known and is only discovered after a detailed investigation.
Reactive vs Proactive Investigations
Reactive investigations start with:
- General public reports
- Referrals by other agencies
- Re-investigation after the development of new information
- Intelligence links to similar crimes
Proactive investigations begin with intelligence identifying individuals or groups assessed as participating in criminal actions. Intelligence is generated from a tasking and coordination process and set aside for detailed investigation. Intelligence packages include: Continue reading...
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