Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 3-39.12 is aligned with Field Manual (FM) 3-39, the Military Police Corps Regiment’s operational doctrine, and Army Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (ATTP) 3-39.10. It is intended as a guide and toolkit for military police investigators, USACIDC special agents (SAs), and military police Soldiers conducting law enforcement (LE) and LE investigations. It also serves to educate military police commanders and staff on LE investigations capabilities, enabling a more thorough understanding of those capabilities. This increased understanding facilitates staff planning, resource allocation, and the ability to articulate LE investigative capabilities and requirements to supported commanders and organizations.

The principal audience for ATP 3-39.12 is Army military police personnel, which include Department of the Army (DA) civilian police, conducting LE investigation activities while assigned to military police brigades, battalions, companies, detachments, United States (U.S.) Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) elements, military police platoons supporting brigade combat teams, and Provost Marshal (PM) staffs. The manual also provides military police commanders and staffs with a framework and understanding of LE investigations and investigative capabilities that support decisive action.

Commanders, staffs, and subordinates ensure their decisions and actions comply with applicable U.S., international, and, in some cases, host-nation (HN) laws and regulations. Commanders at all levels ensure their Soldiers operate in accordance with the law of war and the rules of engagement (see FM 27-10).

ATP 3-39.12 uses joint terms where applicable. Selected joint and Army terms and definitions appear in both the glossary and the text. Terms for which ATP 3-39.12 is the proponent manual (the authority) are marked with an asterisk (*) in the glossary. Definitions for which ATP 3-39.12 is the proponent publication are boldfaced in the text. For other definitions shown in the text, the term is italicized and the number of the proponent publication follows the definition.

ATP 3-39.12 applies to the Active Army, Army National Guard (ARNG)/Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS), and United States Army Reserve (USAR) unless otherwise stated.

The proponent of ATP 3-39.12 is the U.S. Army Military Police School (USAMPS).

Chapter 1 LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION CAPABILITIES AND SUPPORT

Chapter 2 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Chapter 3 INTERVIEWS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERROGATIONS

Chapter 4 CRIME SCENE PROCESSING AND DOCUMENTATION

Chapter 5 PHYSICAL SURVEILLANCE

Chapter 6 UNDERCOVER MISSIONS

Chapter 7 DEATH INVESTIGATIONS

Chapter 8 ASSAULT AND ROBBERY INVESTIGATIONS

Chapter 9 SEX CRIME INVESTIGATIONS

Chapter 10 CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY INVESTIGATIONS

Chapter 11 FRAUD AND ECONOMIC CRIME INVESTIGATIONS

Chapter 12 DRUG CRIME INVESTIGATIONS

Chapter 13 COLLISION (TRAFFIC ACCIDENT) INVESTIGATIONS

Appendix A INVESTIGATIONS SUPPORT IN AN OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Appendix B ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Appendix C FORENSIC EXPERIENTIAL TRAUMA INTERVIEW

Appendix D FORMS

Appendix E SOURCES

Appendix F INVESTIGATIONS CHECKLISTS

Appendix G COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS

Appendix H ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES

Appendix I INVESTIGATOR TESTIMONY

Appendix J COLLISION DIAGRAMMING

Appendix K COLLISION CALCULATIONS

GLOSSARY

REFERENCES