A criminal investigation encompasses the totality of police powers, measures, and activities undertaken when there is a premise for suspecting that a crime or misdemeanor is being arranged or committed, or when there is a suspicion that a certain phenomenon threatens or appears to threaten people's lives, their rights, freedom, security, inviolability, or property. The purpose of the investigation is to identify a criminal act or misdemeanor, find the perpetrator, prevent the perpetrator from hiding or escaping, locate or secure traces and objects that can be used to establish the facts, and gather information that can be valuable for the effective conduct of a criminal or misdemeanor case procedure.