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Investigating internal prison crimes behind prison walls poses a distinct set of challenges—from conducting interviews in confined and high-risk environments to navigating inmate subcultures, managing intelligence discreetly, and ensuring officer safety. A recent SoundThinking-hosted webinar shared real-world strategies and lessons learned from internal investigations into homicides, drug activity, contraband trafficking, and intelligence-based interviews.
Their insights reinforced a growing consensus: correctional investigations demand professional instincts and rapport-building, consistent documentation, interagency collaboration, and modern technology to manage complex casework.
Scene Control Is the First Priority
Before any internal investigation begins, the top priority is securing the scene to ensure safety. According to the webinar presenter, this means confirming that the medical response is complete, locking down the location, and immediately separating witnesses or potential suspects. This procedure mirrors external crime scene protocols but must be adapted to the constraints of the correctional environment, where the suspect, witnesses, and scene are often within steps of each other.
Establishing command over the environment is vital to preventing evidence tampering and ensuring accurate intelligence collection. Once controlled, managing the investigation, along with the many other ongoing investigations, can prove to be overwhelming.
Inmate Culture Shapes Investigations
A recurring theme in the webinar was the influence of inmate social structures on investigative outcomes. Gangs, power hierarchies, and a deep-rooted distrust of authority affect how and whether inmates share information. Officers must be attuned to inmate behavior—listening for subtle patterns, offhand comments, or shifts in tone that could reveal something brewing under the surface.
Given the high-stakes nature of investigating gang activity and criminal behavior within correctional facilities, it’s critical to collect and safeguard intelligence that can advance a case. Effective investigation management requires correctional investigators to understand inmate culture and communication patterns, allowing them to build relationships and identify credible sources of information.
Interview Techniques Require Credibility and Caution
Interviews inside correctional facilities aren’t just about asking the right questions—they’re also about building trust and managing perception. The webinar emphasized that consistent, fair, and discreet officers are more likely to gain useful intelligence. Simple, open-ended questions like “What’s been going on?”—when asked with genuine intent—can open doors, especially when an officer has built a reputation for professionalism.
Some best practices discussed included:
- Avoiding formal or intimidating language.
- Respecting inmate boundaries while remaining firm.
- Protecting the identity of informants to avoid retaliation.
Partnering with External Agencies
When crimes escalate to felonies—such as murder, serious assault, or organized narcotics activity—correctional agencies must work closely with outside law enforcement, prosecutors, and crime labs. Webinar participants emphasized the need for clear communication, shared case files, and early engagement with district attorneys.
The importance of documentation and evidence tracking was repeatedly stressed, both for internal accountability and for supporting successful prosecutions once the investigation leaves the facility.
Technology as a Force Multiplier When Investigating Prison Crimes
The webinar clarified that while instinct and experience are foundational to good investigations, digital tools are becoming increasingly essential. Many facilities still rely on paper reports, which are hard to search, cross-reference, or share. To modernize, agencies are turning to:
- Digital evidence management
- Centralized case tracking tools
- Inmate communication analytics
- Behavior-alert monitoring systems
CaseBuilder, SoundThinking’s investigation management platform, is purpose-built to help correctional investigators manage complex internal cases from start to finish. Instead of juggling notebooks, scattered digital files, and memory-dependent workflows, investigators can use CaseBuilder to:
- Document incidents in real time with structured fields
- Attach evidence, interviews, and intel in one secure platform
- Create timelines to track events and actions
- Collaborate with supervisors and external partners
- Export complete case files for legal or administrative review
Whether an investigation involves one suspect or an entire organized operation within a facility, CaseBuilder ensures that no detail is lost and that each step is logged correctly and accessible, critical for legal proceedings and institutional accountability.
Explore How CaseBuilder Can Enhance Your Agency’s Investigation Management
Final Takeaways
The challenges of investigating crimes within correctional facilities require more than traditional policing tactics—they demand specialized skills, cultural awareness, and precise coordination. As the webinar demonstrated, success hinges on maintaining control of the scene, reading inmate dynamics, conducting respectful yet strategic interviews, and fostering collaboration with external partners. These elements are vital to uncovering the truth in a closed environment where information is often hidden behind layers of fear, loyalty, and manipulation.
Correctional agencies need tools to meet these challenges head-on, supporting both operational efficiency and investigative depth. CaseBuilder equips investigators with a secure, centralized platform to manage every aspect of internal prison investigations, from evidence collection to case reporting to interagency coordination. By modernizing case workflows and enabling better intelligence sharing, CaseBuilder empowers corrections professionals to respond faster, build stronger cases, and enhance safety within their facilities.
