The government performs a pre-arrest investigation based on the type of case a person has been arrested or indicted for. For instance, cases involving drinking under the influence (DUI), basic drug possession, larceny, and assault may not require an extensive pre-arrest investigation.
Cases that do require a pre-arrest investigation include sex crimes, complex financial crimes, drastic acts of violence. Your criminal defense lawyer can guide you better and help you understand what a pre-arrest investigation in Virginia entails. Anyone who is investigated for a crime should consult with their lawyer.
How Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Help?
A criminal defense attorney will be fully aware of the subject and context of the investigation and take the required measures to protect their client and prevent them from incriminating themselves any further.
Who Will Perform the Pre-arrest Investigation?
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, more than one law enforcement agency will perform a pre-arrest investigation. This means that a variety of agencies will be involved in conducting the pre-arrest investigation.
For instance, the pre-arrest investigation may involve the local sheriff’s office, local town police, and the Virginia State Police. It can also involve state agencies and federal agencies, such as the DEA or FBI. Therefore, it is crucial to have a criminal defense attorney present alongside you.
The Focus of the Investigation within the Difference Law Enforcement Agencies
The local sheriff’s department, the Virginia State Police, and local police department will perform a pre-arrest investigation pertaining to all types of criminal activities. Certain areas of the investigation will be handled by the different subsections within each agency.
The drug task forces will be in charge of looking at the various drug networks and distribution whereas the anti-violence task forces will be in charge of looking at violent crimes such as assault, murder, and manslaughter. The different departments within an agency allow law enforcement to benefit from the specialized training and skills of people part of a particular department.
The Different Tools and Techniques Law Enforcement Agencies Use in a Pre-arrest Investigation
Law enforcement agencies use a variety of different tools and techniques in a pre-arrest investigation. The access to the resources available varies from case to case and locality to locality. Some basic police tactics involve performing person-to-person interviews, witness interrogations, witness debriefings, and surveillance — audio surveillance, video surveillance, and in person surveillance.
Moreover, a law enforcement agency may even use a more advanced tactic such as conducting search warrants for the person or persons of interest, search warrants of property of the suspected individuals involved, computer searches, and surveillance methods — audio surveillance, wiretaps, and video surveillance. In some cases, an agency may also use undercover officers or confidential informants depending on the circumstances and facts of the locality and case.
Since law enforcement will talk to people they suspect involvement or may not talk to anyone at all until they have all the evidence to make the arrest. If you find yourself becoming part of a pre-arrest investigation, you should consult with a criminal defense attorney immediately.