Investigation and Case Management
What this domain tests
Investigation and Case Management covers the lifecycle of a case: scene control, evidence integrity, interviews and Miranda, report quality, charging, discovery, and records retention.
Core rules
- Miranda. Custody plus interrogation triggers the warning. Once a suspect invokes the right to remain silent or to counsel, questioning must stop; Edwards v. Arizona bars police reinitiation.
- Identify. ORC 2921.29 requires a person stopped for investigation of an offense to provide name, address, and date of birth when the officer has reasonable suspicion. It is not a general power to demand ID.
- Search warrants. Ohio Crim. R. 41 governs issuance and return. The affidavit must establish probable cause with particularity; avoid boilerplate.
- Chain of custody. Record every transfer of evidence: who, what, when, where, and seal condition.
- Limitations. ORC 2901.13 sets the general felony limitations period at six years and misdemeanor at two years, with exceptions such as murder and rape.
Worked example
A burglary suspect is arrested and Mirandized. He says, "I want a lawyer." Two hours later a detective says, "Just tell me your side; the lawyer will only make it worse." The suspect confesses. Reasoning: the invocation was unambiguous; all questioning had to cease. The later statement was police-initiated after counsel was requested, so it is presumptively inadmissible under Edwards. The fix is not a better warning later; it is to honor the invocation and document it.
Traps
- "Question first, warn later" - Missouri v. Seibert rejects deliberate two-step interrogation.
- Writing conclusions ("the suspect was nervous") without behaviors.
- Submitting only inculpatory evidence and ignoring Brady material.
- Breaking an evidence seal without documenting it.