Criminal investigations don't happen in a single office or by a lone detective—they move through distinct layers of responsibility, each with its own role in building a prosecutable case. This session traces how cases progress through the system: patrol officers who respond first and establish probable cause, detectives who conduct follow-up investigations and gather evidence, and district attorney investigators who help prosecutors determine what charges can actually be filed. Drawing on real-world examples from theft to homicide, we'll explore how responsibility shifts at each stage, what triggers a case to move from one layer to the next, and how coordination between these roles determines whether a case makes it to court. Attendees will gain practical insight into the decision-making and accountability that define each phase of the investigative pipeline.
