Section 1 - Arrest / Detainment Laws

In order to detained and/or arrest an individual, you must have probable cause, also known as PC. Probable cause is usually determined on reasonable belief and reasonable suspicion.

Reasonable Belief: In essence, a reasonable belief is a probable cause. Probable cause means that a reasonable and cautious Agent would believe that criminal activity is or was taking place. This level of proof is REQUIRED to arrest and/or even to conduct a prolonged investigation.

Reasonable Suspicion: Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard of proof in US law, but it is less than probable cause, which is the legal standard for arrests or warrants. Reasonable suspicion has to be based on specific and articulable facts, it cannot be based upon an assumption. Additionally, if an Agent has reasonable suspicion that an individual is armed and/or has illegal items on their person, they may frisk the individual.
Reasonable Belief
When there is a reasonable basis to believe that a crime is being or has already been committed.
Reasonable Suspicion
Less than probable cause.
Must be based off specific and articulable facts. Not an assumption.
Reasonable suspicion that an individual has illegal items on their person warrants a frisk.
When detaining or arresting an individual, the procedures below must be followed;
The Agent must have reasonable suspicion to stop and ID the individual before making the decision to further investigate the individual. | The Agent must have reasonable belief to detain an individual.
Individual must be cuffed and frisked.
If you're questioning the individual, his rights should be read to him. The individual has the right to an attorney present during any questioning.
You have the right to remain silent
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law
You have the right to have an attorney present during any questioning
If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you.
Upon detainment, the individual must be informed of his charges.


An active crime scene should be preserved and limited to open entries and exits. If an agent finds himself/herself in a poorly or non-secured crime scene, he/she should take the time to either order any other on-scene law enforcement agency to help set it up with proper instructions, or set the crime scene up by himself/herself. Failure to secure an active crime scene could lead to contamination, tampering and destroying evidence by bystanders or the law enforcement agents/officers on scene. If the crime scene is active on a road, the road should be properly blocked off by cruisers and agency cars with CODE 2 (Emergency Lights) ON or using hazard lights. If a crime scene is active inside of a building or a house, every entry and exit of the house must be secured and blocked off with tape. The agent may use any roadblock provided to further secure the crime scene. Exhibit cards must be placed at any clues or on-scene visible evidence so that the rest of the agents/detectives and officers know where to approach with caution.

Witnesses of the crime should be separated from the bystanders, they should be placed on a different corner or area of the crime scene where they can be interviewed on the field or taken back to the SBI HQ for an interview. The agent may (if occupied) instruct any other SBI personnel or Sheriff's Office Deputy/Detective to perform the task.

It's encouraged to work as a team with any Agents/Detectives on the scene as teamwork can lead to a faster-secured scene, in which it enables faster evidence collecting.

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Section 3, Evidence Collection

There are different types of evidence at crime scenes. An agent must know how to identify, collect and handle said evidence so it will be admissible in court. When handling evidence, you must always wear latex gloves or protective clothing, depending on the situation.
If the evidence is small, you are urged to use forceps in order to pick it up. If the forceps are too small to handle the evidence, you can pick it up without them. After collecting the evidence, the agent needs to store it inside a plastic evidence bag and tag it accordingly.
Furthermore, evidence can also be retrieved from objects in the form of fingerprints. Fingerprints are one of the best ways to prove a suspect was involved in the crime. Fingerprints can be lifted using powder and a lift card, we will go more in depth on how to lift fingerprints in the lab.

Evidence can also be in form of a video recording, audio or an image. An agent may use video footage retrieved from the state's CCTV cameras or footage from a private individual. This also applies to audio evidence or image evidence.

After collecting physical evidence and tagging it, the agent must store it inside the evidence room at HQ and file a seizure report.



Section 4 - Warrants
An arrest warrant issued or signed off by a Judge authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual. Agents can submit arrest warrants by signing into their SBI Database Account ((Forums)) and filling in the form which is assigned to warrants. This form will then be sent to a Judge, they will either deny the warrant or sign it off, giving the Agent authorization to arrest an individual.

Arrest warrants must only be submitted with appropriate evidence.

A search warrant signed off by a Judge authorizes the search and/or seize of an individual's property. Agents can submit search warrants by signing into their SBI Database Account ((Forums)) and filling in the form which is assigned to warrants. This form will then be sent to a Judge, they will either deny the warrant or sign it off, giving the Agent authorization to search the listed properties on the warrant.

Search warrants must only be submitted with appropriate evidence.


Section 5 - Force Matrix

Agents can use force to stop or prevent commission of a crime to protect persons or property.
Agents will use the following levels of force:
Agent Presence:
The Agent's presence may stop the inappropriate behavior.
Verbal Commands:
Questioning of a subject.
Attempt to persuade a subject.
Act of giving an order to the subject.
Physical Contact:
Directing by touch.
Controlling the subject with an escort hold.
Physical control holds.
Pressure point.
Joint manipulations.
Hair control holds.
Impact Weapons:
Focused blows to vital parts.
Less than lethal (Taser):
Serious physical control.
Deadly Force:
Any force capable of causing serious physical injury or death.
It's not everyday an Agent has to use lethal force to neutralize a suspect, but it happens. IF an Agent has used lethal force to neutralize a suspect they MUST submit a situation report, this is to cover for anything that may come after said shooting. (Court cases, internal investigations etc.)


Section 7 - Fingerprint Lifting

Often times where will be objects related to the crime in which they will have patent prints. A very simple and short step-by-step tutorial will be written down below, a fair warning to use the CONTRASTING color of the object in mind. (Example; a shell casing is bronze, use white powder.) And ALWAYS remember to put your gloves on before doing anything regarding all of the kits.
Lifting prints is to be conducted using the FFK.

Steps:
Open forensic kit, apply gloves.
Grab a powder which contrasts the object. (in this case, a shell casing of a fired round.)
Grab a fiber-glass brush and open the package of powder.
Gently dip the brush into the powder, only apply a very small amount.
Hold the brush over the object and ROTATE the brush with your fingers to lace the powder over.
If any prints are visible, grab a lift tape and stick it onto the visible print.
Lift the tape and then stick it onto a lift card.
Place the lift card onto a ID/Print scanner and wait for the results of the name on the MDC.
The camel hair brush should be only used if an object on scene is very dusty, it's mostly a brush meant to remove dirt or dust from an object.
The same steps is mainly used for shell casings, though at instances you are allowed to use it for any kind of object on scene.


Section 8 - Gunshot Residue Test(GSR)

The gun residue test is only brought up when a agent believes that a suspect has used a firearm to commit a crime. For the gun residue test to work, the suspect must have fired the gun, if the suspect has cleaned his hands and changed his clothes then the GRK test would be a fail.

Steps:
Open the GRK, apply gloves.
Grab the glass plate and set it on a surface.
Grab a cotton ball or a swab.
Rub the cotton swab/ball on the palms/clothes of the suspect.
Leave the cotton swab or ball on the glass plate.
Grab the chemical vial and place a few drops on the swab/ball.
If the cotton turns blue, that means the test is a success.
If the cotton does not give out a chemical reaction, then its a failure.


Section 10 - Vehicle Stop Procedure

When an Agent is pulling over a vehicle, they MUST adhere to the following procedure.

Normal Stop
Turn the Emergency Lights on and sound the vehicle to pull over with your sirens. (Only use the megaphone if it's really necessary.)
Once the vehicle has pulled over, unless known to be armed, pull behind them as follows;
VEHICLE POSITION: SHOW
Once the vehicle has pulled over, inform any other on-duty Agents of the stop. Make sure to include your location, plate of the vehicle, amount of occupants and their ethnicity.
If back-up is needed, feel free to contact any other on-duty Agents.
High-Risk Stop
Turn the Emergency Lights on and sound the vehicle to pull over with your sirens. (Only use the megaphone if it's really necessary.)
Once the vehicle has pulled over, pull behind them as follows;
VEHICLE POSITION: SHOW
This distance makes it harder for the occupants to open fire, it also gives you time to react if they begin to reverse. Make sure to have you vehicle at more of an angle, it gives immediate cover if needed.
Once the vehicle has pulled over, call for back-up and wait. Make sure to include your location, plate of the vehicle, amount of occupants and their ethnicity. If there is no back-up available, you can begin given commands but make sure to keep the distance.
When pulling over a possibly armed or armed vehicle over, the agent must perform a High-Risk Stop instead of a normal stop.

These procedures are put in place for Agent safety. If this procedure isn't followed, the Agent may face re-training and/or a punishment.


Section 11 - Pursuit Management/Techniques

This section will go through Pursuit Management guidelines/protocols which are to be respected by Agents employed by the San Andreas Bureau of Investigation.

Steps of initiating pursuits;
Notify Fellow Agents via the radio
Another Agent available will inform Sheriff's Office about the pursuit and ask for back-up if needed. (Please state if you do not need backup)
Pursuits protocols an Agent MUST follow;
Pursuit Line - Agent's must form a pursuit line, this is to limit the chance of an accident.
Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) - This may only be performed if there are two units in the pursuit line.
Taking Tires - This may only be performed after 5 minutes of an on-going pursuit. Note: The vehicle MUST be a clear threat to the public and others safety.
An agent must not take tires or perform a PIT while inside of a town or a busy area.

If an Agent is seen to be in breach of the above protocols and/or clearly doesn't take the guidelines listed into account, an internal investigation may be opened on them and the Agent may face an internal punishment or criminal charges.