The Art of Investigation

The Art of Investigation examines the qualities required to be a professional, thorough, and effective investigator. As the title suggests, it delves into more than the steps and procedures involved in managing an investigation, it also covers the "soft skills" necessary to effectively direct investigations and intuit along the way. The editors and contributing authors are the best in their field, and bring a wealth of real-world knowledge and experience to the subject. There are several publications available on the nuts-and-bolts of the process and stages of an investigation. That ground has been covered. However, little has been published on the investigative skills required, the traits necessary, and the qualities endemic to an inquisitive mind that can be cultivated to improve an investigator’s professional skill-set.

Each chapter discusses the applicability of the traits to the contributor’s own work and experience as an investigator. In doing so, the contributors provide a story—or set of stories—from their personal experience, which demonstrates a given trait and its importance in the course of their investigative work and career. This will be first-hand experience that will serve to help any investigative professional in the course of their work. The case examples included throughout are sometimes surprising, but always engaging and insightful. An investigator must keep an open mind above all else, and this book will "lift the veil" on the inner workings of an investigation, in addition to the thought processes and inner monologues of an investigator as part of that process.

• Chapters highlight the qualities and traits—the "soft skills"—that are required, and which can be improved over time, to be a thorough investigator.

• A veritable "Who’s Who" of renowned investigative experts lend their personal expertise and experience to this how-to manual for investigators.

• A unique approach is applied and provides self-help advice for both new and experienced investigative and security professionals.

• The book focuses on the learned, acquired, and intuitive skills of investigation—a nuanced but essential aspect of the investigative skill-set.

will be a welcome addition to any investigator’s toolkit and will also be of interest to students in criminal justice, security, and Homeland Security programs, security consultants, corporate and private security professionals, and the legal community.

Chelsea Binns is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Center for Safety and Private Security in the Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. She is the author of Fraud Hotlines: Design, Performance & Assessment published by Taylor & Francis/CRC Press. She is a licensed Private Investigator and Certified Fraud Examiner, and is the president of the New York Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Her research interests are focused on corporate security matters, including background checks, corporate crime, cybercrime, investigations, and organizational fraud. She has extensive corporate security, management and investigative experience, having worked for prestigious organizations such as Citibank, Morgan Stanley, New York City's Department of Investigation (DOI) and the New York State Office of the Attorney General. Ms. Binns has a doctorate and two master's degrees in Criminal Justice from the CUNY Graduate Center/John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Bruce Sackman served as the Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, Northeast Field Office until May 2005 when he retired after 32 years' service. In this capacity, he was responsible for all major criminal investigations involving VA from West Virginia to Maine. During his tenure he was involved in hundreds of investigations involving allegations of fraud, corruption, false claims, thefts, patient assaults, pharmaceutical drug diversions and suspicious hospital deaths. He was also responsible for supervising the successful investigation of the nation's first homicide conviction in connection with pharmaceutical research. His cases involving medical professionals who have murdered their patients have been featured on the Discovery Health Channel, CNN, MSNBC, America's Most Wanted and on Home Box Office. He is the recipient of many awards for his investigations and for his efforts in encouraging the profession of forensic nursing. Mr. Sackman has lectured at several forensic related conferences, State police organizations, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, universities and medical related symposia.

He is the co-author of the new book "Behind the Murder Curtain, Special Agent Bruce Sackman Hunts Doctors and Nurses Who Kill Our Veterans and the article "When the ICU becomes a Crime Scene" for Critical Care Nursing Quarterly.