How was the crime detected and how did investigators build a case?

If you have additional information that you want to include, please do so. Below is a framework designed to prompt you to think about how you’re going to organize a lot of information and do a thorough discussion of your case. Again, you do not have to use this structure, but it may help you in researching and organizing your thoughts. The Crime What happened and who did it? This section should focus on how the criminal act began, what the perpetrators motivation was, the method by which the crime happened, and who were the victims. As much as possible, focus on the methods and motivationstwo things that investigators and prosecutors want to understand these cases, as do business owners who are at risk of this type of fraud. For example, in the case of embezzlement, this might be what led a bookkeeper to start transferring money out of her employers account and into her own. The Investigation How was the crime detected and how did investigators build a case? Here, your case study might examine how law enforcement got involved and the steps investigators took to document the crime. This may involve a discussion of which agency was charged with investigating this crime, which can be a complicated jurisdictional issue in complex white-collar cases. The Court Proceedings What charges were filed and how was the case prosecuted? This section should discuss the prosecutors choice of statute and how the facts alleged fit the elements of those criminal laws. Prosecutors have great discretion in how they charge crimes in white-collar cases, which can include a decision to file criminal or civil violations, or to opt for a Deferred Prosecution Agreement or a Non-Prosecution Agreement. Jurisdictional issues must be decided at this stage, as well, such as whether it is better to bring this case in state or federal court. Because of the availability of public records, a prosecutors strategy should be a large part of this section of your case study. Those records may also shed light on the defense to the criminal charges, particularly if there was a trial. Even if the case was settled with a guilty plea, court filings can provide insight into the defense strategy, as well. The Resolution Once a defendant is found guilty or negotiates a plea agreement, there is still the question of what the court should do with the defendant. In white-collar cases, the same sentencing purposes come into play, just as in any other criminal conviction. Even if the defendant is a corporation, the sentence will still be weighed as to how it fits with the purposes of retribution, rehabilitation, deterrence, incapacitation, and restoration.