Life Experiences and Aspirations of Police Criminal Investigators

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of the informants as criminal investigators in the province of Bohol. Specifically, it determined the following: experiences of the informants as criminal investigators, the contribution of criminal investigation to the criminal justice process, and aspirations of the informants in their professional and personal lives. This study employed a qualitative method of research employing a phenomenological approach in delving into the experiences of the informants. This study was conducted in the province of Bohol. The informants of this study were ten (10) police investigators who were assigned as police investigators for at least five (5) years and have attended the criminal investigation and detection course or training of any equivalent courses. Six (6) emergent themes were derived from the responses of the informants. For the experiences of the informants in criminal investigation in the positive and negative aspects, four (4) themes were created namely: Together for the Better; Yes, as Achiever, Never Surrender; Work over Family; and lastly, When Obstacles Hinder Justice. For the contribution of criminal investigation to the criminal justice process, two themes were created: Cautious Step Towards Development; Hand in Hand, We Stand. Lastly, for the aspiration of the informants in their professional and personal lives, two themes were created: Inspired to Serve; and Once an Officer, Forever and Influence. Awareness programs from the Philippine National Police under Police Community Relations have to double the efforts in making the community knowledgeable of the programs and of the importance of police-community relations as a step in making the community open-minded during the implementation of any programs that involve their participation in the maintenance of peace and order and as members of the pillars of the criminal justice system. Refresher courses, training, and other related seminar workshops should be conducted for the personnel assigned as an investigator to uplift their knowledge and exposure to the different criminal cases, and techniques comprising the three phases of investigation.