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Investigating Crime

Criminal investigations range from obtaining statements from witnesses to a crime, to locating complex forensic (scientific) evidence in murder cases.

Who investigates?

In addition to evidence collected by police for the prosecution and by the defendant or the defence team, scientific results from forensic investigations can give a more complete picture of what might have happened at a crime scene.

Victoria Police Forensic Services evaluate and analyse evidence that scientists and police, crime scene officers, or other police have recovered from crime scenes. They interpret the results and provide expert testimony in court.

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine specialists investigate and provide medico-legal opinions on interpreting injuries in cases involving living people and causes of death and reconstruction of events in cases of homicide or suspicious deaths.

What happens next?

Criminal matters are brought before a judge or the Magistrates' Court in a ‘reasonable time’ under the Crimes Act 1958, but that depends on factors including the time needed to investigate by interviewing people, visiting the scene of the incident and collecting other evidence.