In a criminal justice career, an officer will experience all kinds of crime. As an officer it is crucial to adapt to whatever situation they are thrown into. A type of crime that a law enforcement officer will come in contact with is a felony. According to United States Department of Justice, “Any offense punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year is called a felony. Felonies are the most serious crimes. The prosecutors and the courts handle felony cases differently from misdemeanor cases (cases that have shorter possible sentences)” (What Happens in a Felony Case, 2015). A felony is the most serious and most punishable typer of crime that a law enforcement professional will come into contact with. Many felonies involve damage to a person’s property. It is paramount that an officer documents the crime scene to the best of their ability to do the absolute best they can for the victim. According to an article about investigating property crime, “First responding officers are critical to any property crime investigation because they are able to document and capture the crime scene in its purest state” (Greenberg, n.d.). Officers need be very tentative of the crime scene to accurately document it. Officers should take into consideration all of the necessary things such as the state of the scene, points of entry, and any items that may be of evidence. They should also get a detailed list of stolen or destroyed property, consider other investigative avenues to identify the suspect, and consider the application of technology in the investigation. (Greenberg, n.d.)
