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DNA - A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook Inventory

Confessions

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If the suspect confesses, the investigator should give special attention to corroborating details of the confession that reveal information known only to the person who committed the crime. If the suspect denies involvement or names alibi witnesses with possible corroborating details, the investigator should flesh these out.

If the suspect does not confess, the investigator should attempt a second interview once background investigative work has been performed to establish the suspect's life and movements contemporaneous with the crime. This background documentation can be developed through the suspect's identified employment at the time of the crime, school, phone records, bank, credit card records, vehicle, utility, property, and prison and probation records. The investigator should contact the suspect's associates and family members identified through these records. Ideally, these associates and family members should be contacted before the second visit to the suspect.

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