Book Review
Title: Crime Scene and Forensic Investigation: Basics of Tunnel Vision on Interrogation Process
Author: Oluwatomi Ajayi Esq.
Publisher: Malthouse Press Limited, Nigeria
Pages: 114
Reviewer: Dipo Kehinde
Cracking a crime to bring perpetrators to justice is no child’s play. It is well known that during the course of a criminal investigation, there are lots of missing pieces due largely to avoidable errors such as when an officer exhibits’ tunnel vision’ by failing to consider new evidence or when he tramples on vital forensic evidence, or when he generally fails to abide by the ethics of crime scene investigation. At the end of the day, everyone is left at the mercy of sketchy evidence.
The book, ‘Crime Scene and Forensic Investigation: Basics of Tunnel Vision on Interrogation Process’, is divided into four parts. The first section examines “Tunnel Vision in Interrogation Process by Law Enforcement Officers. The second section deals with “Police and Crime Scene Investigation.” The third section considers the evolution and “tool of Forensics in crime fighting”, while the concluding section explores ‘The Rights of Suspects”. The Author reveals that in the face of several challenges facing investigators at crime scenes, it is pertinent to develop guidelines for law enforcement officers so they can achieve positive results regarding how they can combine experience and knowledge in the task before them, or how they can obtain comprehensive information and capture or process crime scene evidence before it is destroyed. The book also addresses the challenges faced by law enforcement officers’ inability to catch up with technology and teaches security operatives how to distinguish an erratic account from a true account provided by suspects. It admonishes them to look at crime extensively because an object not deemed pertinent in an investigation may turn out relevant.
Although the Author wrote as a perceptive observer, she believes that accurate depiction of the crime scene is vital; for any improper investigation of crime ordinarily violates the law and global best practices in the policing world. All efforts must therefore be geared towards avoiding sketchy evidence and legal hurdles when handling criminal investigations. This book can rightly be said to be a total package on criminal justice education and research. It’s therefore a massive step forward in solving crimes. Besides, this book is coming out at a period because year 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s decision in Daubert v. Merrel Dow Pharmaceuticals which reshaped how Judges evaluate scientific evidence in the courtroom.
The book proffer solutions not only by simplifying the process involved in criminal investigation, it also calls for better management of criminal investigation. It encompasses Law, Psychology, Medicine, Forensic Science, Culture and a whole lot more. To this end, the book is highly recommended for all law enforcement agencies, Judges, Psychologists, Expert Witnesses, Lawyers, Crime Journalists and Students whose interests are centered on criminal justice. This is no doubt a scholarly work written by Mrs. Oluwatomi Ajayi, a Legal Researcher and equally the Chairperson, Research Committee of African Women Lawyers (AWLA) Nigeria Chapter.
Besides, an Internet search has revealed that Oluwatomi Ajayi is the first Nigerian that has ventured into this technical area of Tunnel Vision Interrogation Process, Crime Scene and Forensic Investigation. Foreword is written by Olanrewaju Fagbohun, a renowned Professor of Law and Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University.
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