Crime & Clues

By Kathryn A. Hanon

Investigator Orlando, Florida, Police Department

This article originally appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, December 1991.

The range of investigations for modern day law enforcement officers is unparalleled in the history of criminology. Investigators must use innovative techniques in order to solve today's more sophisticated, bizarre criminal acts.

For example, cases of an obscure form of child abuse--Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP)--are being seen more and more frequently. MSBP is a form of child abuse that involves long-term physical abuse, usually by a parent.

However, in order to conduct MSBP investigations effectively, it is necessary to understand the complexity of the disorder and the unorthodox investigative procedures that may be necessary to prosecute the case successfully. This article discusses the disorder and how officers should approach the investigation of this crime.

 This article originally appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin September 1996.

A better understanding of isolated extremist groups can help law enforcement prevent them from lashing out against society.

Formerly an officer with the Pima County, Arizona, Sheriff's Department, Dr. Gilmartin currently is a police psychologist and private consultant based in Tucson, Arizona.

Law enforcement agencies increasingly are being called upon to deal with extremist groups. These groups can run the gamut from religious cults to isolated communes of political extremists. While the vast majority of these organizations do not threaten society and merely practice their constitutional freedoms, others pose significant risk to society and require law enforcement attention.

Groups that express terrorist motivations, attempt to engage in "religious acts" that violate criminal statutes, or propose outright antigovernment insurgency exist across the nation. Although the causes they espouse range from a desire for religious salvation to a quest for national preservation, these groups share many striking similarities. Collectively, they have certain core features that law enforcement officers need to understand in order to resolve conflicts with members of such groups.