Criminal Investigation: Surveillance

The systematic observation of people, places, activities, or objects to obtain information relevant to an authorized investigation.

Observation conducted from a relatively stationary position to monitor a particular location or activity.

Observation that moves with a subject or activity as it changes location.

Observation conducted through the direct presence of investigators rather than solely through remote electronic systems.

Monitoring performed using electronic technologies, subject to applicable legal authorization and privacy safeguards.

Monitoring conducted in a manner that is visible or known to the person or public being observed.

Monitoring conducted without making the surveillance activity apparent to the subject.

To obtain relevant, reliable information while complying with legal requirements and protecting public and personnel safety.

A documented arrangement identifying objectives, authorization, personnel responsibilities, resources, communication, and safety measures.

It helps determine what information is relevant and prevents unnecessary or unjustified monitoring.

The person, place, object, or activity designated for observation in an investigation.

A location from which investigators conduct authorized observation of an area or activity.

A chronological record of observations, times, locations, personnel actions, and relevant events during surveillance.

To prevent interpretations from being mistaken for directly witnessed events.

Recording observations at or near the time they occur to reduce memory errors and improve reliability.

They help establish the sequence of observations and compare records from different sources.

Unobserved intervals limit what can reliably be concluded about a subject's actions or movements.

Monitoring intended to maintain observation throughout a specified period, although actual coverage and interruptions must be documented.

Monitoring conducted during selected intervals rather than throughout the entire relevant period.

The recognition or assessment of indications that observation or monitoring may be taking place.

Activities intended to identify, evaluate, or respond to possible surveillance, subject to applicable law and authorization.

A situation in which the monitoring activity is exposed or otherwise loses its intended effectiveness.

Protect human life and safety, reassess the operation, and follow authorized procedures.

To establish common objectives, legal limits, assignments, communication procedures, and safety expectations.

A structured review after an operation to document findings, discrepancies, evidence, and lessons learned.

To oversee authorization, operational compliance, personnel coordination, documentation, and safety.

Information obtained through monitoring that may help investigators develop leads or assess criminal activity.

Intelligence may guide investigative decisions, while evidence must independently satisfy applicable legal and evidentiary requirements.

Independent information can strengthen reliability and help identify mistakes or alternative explanations.

Incorrectly attributing observed actions or characteristics to a particular person.

Poor lighting, distance, obstructed views, brief observations, similar appearances, and observer expectations.

Government monitoring must respect applicable constitutional rights, including protections concerning privacy and unreasonable searches.

The right against unreasonable searches and seizures involving persons, houses, papers, and effects.

The privacy of communication and correspondence, subject to the exceptions recognized by the Constitution.

It regulates and generally prohibits unauthorized interception or recording of private communications covered by the Anti-Wiretapping Act.

No. Public observation and interception of protected communications involve different legal considerations.

The Data Privacy Act establishes requirements and safeguards for processing personal information, subject to its scope and applicable exceptions.

It provides a judicial remedy concerning unlawful acts or omissions involving personal information that violate or threaten privacy in relation to life, liberty, or security.

To reduce unauthorized disclosure, misuse, alteration, and privacy risks.

Collecting and retaining personal information only to the extent necessary for a legitimate and lawful purpose.

It provides a source record against which copies, excerpts, and processing may be evaluated.

A record of relevant access, transfers, processing, and handling actions affecting surveillance data.

Otherwise, potentially important evidence may be permanently lost.

Its temporal relationship to the investigated event may require independent verification.

A distortion that arises when only certain events are captured or retained, producing an incomplete picture of the activity.

No. The interval must be identified as an observation gap unless supported by another reliable source.

No. Clothing similarity is not unique identification and requires assessment with other reliable evidence.

Do not proceed without establishing a lawful basis and complying with applicable constitutional and statutory requirements.

Check clock settings, original recordings, logs, and independent references before establishing a reliable timeline.

Not conclusively. Unmonitored exits, recording gaps, and other explanations must be considered.