How to Make an Expert Detective?: An Evaluation of the first ever Icelandic Lead Detective Development Programme

Abstract

This study is an evaluation of the Investigative Development Programme for investigators and prosecutors in Iceland. The training was carried out in collaboration with the Centre for Police Training and Professional Development in Reykjavík and had 41 participants and was conducted at the training centre from august 2017 until February 2018. The purpose of the study was to identify if there were any measureable changes in the mindset of the participants and if they were aware or had knowledge of factors that could affect their performance in alternative hypothesis testing during criminal investigations that may affect quality in decisions during investigations. The thesis is based on relevant literature and studies of investigations, decision making and quality work and furthermore emphases the need to learn from numerous miscarriages of justice – or errors of justice. Three different measures were used, Pre- and Post-Survey, cognitive ability tests and reflection notes and the input was evaluated and an attempt made to identify the developments in improving learning and therefore improving quality in decisionmaking. The findings show significant development both in awareness and knowledge in factors that affect the mindset of the individual during criminal investigations. A key conclusion and contribution of the study is that there is room for improvement and further support for investigators and prosecutors. The collaboration and support that the participants received seems to indicate that more can be achieved. Furthermore, there seems to be a need for a systematic approach to investigation to ensure that all investigations are of high quality.