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Question 1

The primary goal of any criminal investigation is to find the…

Answer 1

TRUTH!

Question 2

The most important objective of a successful criminal investigation is getting a criminal conviction in court.

Answer 2

False.

Question 3

In cases of injury to a person, preservation of evidence at the scene is always more important than treatment of victim.

Answer 3

False.

Question 4

We must never allow emergency medical responders into a crime scene until we have first collected all possible physical evidence.

Answer 4

False.

Question 5

All situations/scenes involving the death of a human being must always be treated as a crime scene until determined otherwise.

Answer 5

True.

Question 6

When allowing access to a crime scene, what are 2 tasks that must be accomplished by the officer in charge of protecting the scene?

Answer 6

Putting a perimeter around the scene, as well as controlling press and access.

Question 7

What is meant by Locard’s principle of exchange/transference?

Answer 7

It’s defined by the concept that states that a perpetrator of a crime will bring something into the crime scene and leave with something from it.

Question 8

You should always maintain your field notes for at least one year.

Answer 8

False.

Question 9

What is meant by the Chain of Custody?

Answer 9

A process that records where an asset/evidence has been, who has held it, and ultimately all its history.

Question 10

Using law enforcement “jargon”, codes and very technical terminology will make your report sound much more professional and credible.

Answer 10

False.

Question 11

In what order is police reports generally written in so that the events can be described and listed?

Answer 11

Chronological.

Question 12

What are the “W’s” and “H” as related to police reports?

Answer 12

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

Question 13

What do we mean by circumstantial evidence?

Answer 13

Indirect evidence that leads one to logically conclude that a fact exists even when it doesn’t show the fact.

Question 14

What is meant by the term “elements of the offense”?

Answer 14

1.) the act; 2.) the person’s mental health status; 3.) the cause and effect portion.

Question 15

What is an investigative detention?

Answer 15

A brief involuntary hold of a person suspected of criminal activity.

Question 16

What is the scope of a Terry Stop? What are we allowed to search for?

Answer 16

The scope is to stop, question, and frisk. More based on questioning, it’s a short nonintrusive police stop of a suspect. You’re allowed to search for weapons.

Question 17

What are 3 forms of interpersonal communication, as discussed in class? (not including written, electronic, etc.)

Answer 17

1.) non-verbal movement (body language); 2.) attentive hearing; 3.) tone of voice.

Question 18

What are two primary questions you should ask upon your initial arrival on a possible incident scene before you begin any investigation?

Answer 18

Was there a crime committed?
What was the crime committed?

Question 19

What is meant by confirmation bias?

Answer 19

The tendency of people favoring information that strengthens their opinions in the basis of what happened.

Question 20

Using “big” words, codes, police jargon, and words not in common usage makes you sound more intelligent and professional.

Answer 20

False.

Question 21

What are the levels in order of suspicion/certainty of the scale of “What It Is”?

Answer 21

Guess/hunch ->
reasonable suspicion ->
probable cause ->
preponderance of evidence (civil cases only) ->
beyond reasonable doubt ->
fact.

Question 22

What level of suspicion/proof do you need to get a conviction in a criminal trial?

Answer 22

Beyond reasonable doubt.

Question 23

What level of suspicion/proof do you need to arrest someone on a criminal charge?

Answer 23

Probable cause.

Question 24

What level of suspicion/proof do you need to get a judgement/hold someone civilly liable?

Answer 24

Preponderance of evidence.

Question 25

What level of suspicion/proof do you need to stop someone for suspicious behavior?

Answer 25

Reasonable suspicion.

Question 26

What is probable cause?

Answer 26

When the police must have a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed, or is being committed by the subject.

Question 27

What is preponderance of evidence?

Answer 27

In most civil cases in which the party bearing the burden of proof must present evidence which is more credible and convincing than that presented by the other party or which shows that the fact to be proven is more probable than not.

Question 28

What is reasonable suspicion?

Answer 28

Where any reasonable person would suspect that a crime was in the process of being committed, had been committed or was going to be committed very soon.

Question 29

What is paralinguistics?

Answer 29

Non-verbal actions (tone of voice, body language, etc.).

Question 30

What is an indictment?

Answer 30

A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.

Question 31

What is the due process?

Answer 31

A guarantee that the government must treat individuals fairly and follow established rules and procedures. (life, rights, property or freedoms).

Question 32

What is a crime scene?

Answer 32

Any physical location in which a crime has occurred or is suspected of having occurred.

Question 33

What is a preliminary crime scene?

Answer 33

The original location of a crime or accident.

Question 34

What is a secondary crime scene?

Answer 34

An alternative location where additional evidence may be found.

Question 35

What is a suspect?

Answer 35

A person thought to be capable of committing a crime.

Question 36

What is an accomplice?

Answer 36

A person associated with someone suspected of committing a crime.

Question 37

What is an alibi?

Answer 37

A statement of where the suspect was or with whom at the time of the crime.

Question 38

What is direct evidence?

Answer 38

Evidence of a fact based on a witness’s personal knowledge of that fact acquired by means of the witness’s senses.

Question 39

What is an interview?

Answer 39

To get basic information.

Question 40

What is an interrogation?

Answer 40

Getting a confession or clear them as a suspect.

Question 41

What are the 4 questions linked to an interrogation?

Answer 41

What do they know?
What don’t they know?
What should they know?
What shouldn’t they know?

Question 42

What is a robbery?

Answer 42

A break in with and the use of threats and/or force.

Question 43

What is a burglary?

Answer 43

A break in with no threats and/or force.

Question 44

What is homicide?

Answer 44

The killing of another human being with no intent.

Question 45

What is a murder?

Answer 45

The killing of another human being with intent.

Question 46

What is hearsay evidence?

Answer 46

Evidence that was retrieved from a third party.

Question 47

What is quid pro quo?

Answer 47

An advantage or favor that is given or expected in exchange for something. (give and take)

Question 48

What is the totality of circumstances?

Answer 48

The method of analysis where decisions are based on all available information rather than always the most predictable manner (bright line rules).

Question 49

What is the exclusionary rule?

Answer 49

A law that prohibits the use of evidence gathered or examined against the defendant’s constitutional rights in court.

Question 50

In order to obtain a search warrant, what do you need?

Answer 50

Probable cause.

Question 51

Are interrogators allowed lie to the suspect(s)?

Answer 51

Yes. Usually used in hopes of gathering more information that they may not have given without the falsity.

Question 52

What is beyond reasonable doubt?

Answer 52

There is no other reasonable explanation that can come from the evidence presented at trial.