Modus Operandi, Law, and Solvability

The importance of Modus Operandi in investigating violent

crimes and property crimes

Modus Operandi (MO) describes the pattern in which a

crime was committed. It is used by the investigators to link criminal cases

through understanding criminals learned MO behaviors, which gain sophistication

through experience (Douglas et al., 1992). Law enforcement agencies analyze MO

behaviors to investigate and link crimes to a particular offender or criminal

hence helping solve a case.

Modus Operandi is essential in the investigation of

violent crimes and property crimes. Investigators can connect different cases

by use of the similarities of the methods used by a criminal. In violent crimes

like burglary, some criminals use the same weapons to attack. Other criminals

have the same way to invade a house. During the investigation of a property

crime, investigators can use MO behavior to know the criminal who invaded a

particular home or place to steal property (Douglas et al., 1992).

Solvability factors are not under the control of the

investigators but can influence the course of the case. These factors prove

that not all cases can be solved. Some important details of investigation like

threats through emails can be deleted and thus destroying evidence. Solvability

factors have a significant impact on an investigation as these significant

details can help solve a case, or the loss of them before or during the

investigation may make it difficult to solve a case; thus, investigators ought

to use all case screening to get as much information as possible from the scene

of the crime(Coupe et al.,2019).

References

Douglas, J. E., & Munn, C. (1992). Violent crime

scene analysis: Modus operandi, signature, and staging. FBI L. Enforcement Bull., 61, 1.

Douglas, J. E., & Munn, C. (1992). Modus operandi and

the signature aspects of violent crime. Crime classification manual, 259-268.

Coupe, R. T., Ariel, B., & Mueller-Johnson, K.

(Eds.). (, 2019). Crime

solvability factors: Police resources and crime detection. Springer Nature.