Final answer:
Officers continue preliminary investigations until they have gathered enough evidence to establish probable cause. The presumption of innocence remains central throughout investigation and legal proceedings, and various methods are used to identify suspects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Officers will pursue preliminary investigations until they have gathered enough evidence to establish probable cause. At this early stage, they aim to determine if there is sufficient reason to believe a crime has been committed and to identify who is responsible for the crime. In scenarios where there is evidence of a lesser crime, such as possession of an unlawful weapon, but no direct evidence of a more serious crime like armed robbery, the investigation continues. If direct evidence is lacking and suspects cannot be conclusively linked to the more serious crime, the investigation might either focus on the lesser charges or continue until sufficient evidence is found.
Throughout the investigation and subsequent legal process, the presumption of innocence remains a fundamental right of the accused. Even with public perceptions influenced by media representations, this principle is upheld until the evidence is presented in court, and a jury reaches a verdict. Police officers use various methods to identify criminals, including eyewitness accounts and physical evidence, while working within the guidelines established by Supreme Court decisions that govern the criminal justice process in the United States.