What provides guidance on acceptable investigative techniques?

Criminal procedures serve as a framework that outlines the acceptable methods and standards by which law enforcement conducts investigations. These procedures include the rules governing how evidence is collected, how suspects are treated, and the rights of individuals involved in the criminal justice system. In essence, criminal procedures ensure that investigations are conducted lawfully and fairly, safeguarding both the rights of individuals and the integrity of the judicial process.

They provide law enforcement officers with the necessary guidelines for conducting investigations effectively while adhering to constitutional protections, such as the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. This ensures that any evidence gathered is admissible in court and that the rights of all parties are respected during the investigative process.

While criminal profiling, ethical laws, and victimology have their own important roles in criminal investigations, they do not offer the comprehensive set of guidelines specifically focused on the procedural aspects of conducting investigations, making criminal procedures the primary resource for acceptable investigative techniques.