Criminal investigations are the ways in which crimes are investigated and criminals arrested (In Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011). It's a key part of keeping criminals off the streets. Investigation is a crucial aspect for many different crimes such as, but not limited to, theft, robbery, burglary, arson, murder and assault. Criminal investigations can take days or even many years to resolve; some cases are never closed. Not only can investigations last for long periods of time, but the lives of those working on these cases can also be put in danger. Crime scene processing plays an important role in ensuring justice for the victim. However, crime scene processing is also an area that needs improvement due to some errors resulting from this tedious process. This is a long process that must be documented at every point. First, there will be an overview of the crime scene. Next, criminal investigators will enter the crime scene and start taking photographs, but will not touch anything. As soon as the process is complete, investigators will once again sweep the scene, packing up all the evidence to send to the laboratory. Errors can be made during this phase, which could include the loss or alteration of documented evidence if not documented correctly. Finally, after the evidence has been sent to the laboratory and processed, the results will be sent to the most experienced detective. The investigation continues and the investigators of the case must ensure that they document everything that is discovered or done; If details are not recorded correctly, mistakes can be made and important facts missed. A chain of evidence must be maintained as investigators continue to gather information. The collected evidence will be given to a person to keep track of, who may also... middle of paper......p://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction= display_arch&article_id=1136&issue_id= 32007Criminal investigations. (2011). In the Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/143110/criminal-investigationOne-time temporary email address. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.guerillamail.org/Ganguly, M. (2001, October 5). A banking system built for terrorism. Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/world/printout/0,8816,178227,00.htmlHarris, W. (2011). How DNA testing works. How things work. Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/genetic/dna-evidence4.htmJohnson, A. (2010). Already under attack, crime labs are stretched thin. MSNBC. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35319938/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/already-under-fire-crime-labs-cut-bone/#.TmF2IY6Scl9