Logical Investigative Methods

This book describes how to use logic, reasoning, critical thinking, and the scientific method to conduct and improve criminal and civil investigations. The author discusses how investigators and attorneys can avoid assumptions and false premises and instead make valid deductions, inductions, and inferences. He explains how tools such as interview and interrogation can be used to detect deception and profile unknown individuals and suspects. The book is aimed at improving not only the conduct of investigations, but also the logical use of cognitive, analytical, documentation, and presentation tools to win cases.

Dr. Robert Girod, Sr. is a 35-year veteran law enforcement officer (city, county, state, and federal), an attorney and consulting detective, and adjunct professor (eight universities), and a former military officer. He is the author of Advanced Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Operations: Tradecraft Methods, Practices, Tactics, and Techniques, Police Liability and Risk Management: Torts, Civil Rights and Employment Law, Infamous Murders and Mysteries: Cold Case Files and Who-Done-Its, and Profiling the Criminal Mind: Behavioral Science and Criminal Investigative Analysis. He has authored articles for various professional periodicals, such as FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Security Management, The Police Marksman, and Musubi.

The Scientific Method: Fact Finding in Investigations. Cognitive Skills: Perceptions and Thought Processes. Logic: Deduction and Induction. Critical Thinking: Fact Pattern Analysis. Logical Reasoning: Legal Inferences. Back to Basics: Criminal Investigations Skills. Personality Profiling: The Compass. Personality Profiling: The Map. Profiling the Criminal Mind: Criminal Investigative Analysis. Interviewing and Interrogation. Kinesic Interviewing and Body Language. Deception Detection: Discourse and Content Analysis. Analytical Investigative Methods: Processing Data. Communicating Skills: Critical Documentation. Logical Presentation Methods: Conveying Information. Using Logical Investigative Methods: Recapitulation.