chapter 2

Question 1

Responsibilities of 1st Officer:

Answer 1

Acquiring medical assistance for injured victims
Detaining any potential suspects or witnesses
Securing crime scene to greatest extent possible
Calling for additional personnel needed (other officers and/or forensic investigators)

Question 2

how is crime scene secured? what should you include in the scene?

Answer 2

crime-scene tape, ropes, and/or traffic cones

Include an area where crime took place and surrounding area where physical evidence may be located

Question 3

how do you keep track of personnel at crime scene?

Answer 3

log of personnel movements in and out of crime scene (names and times)

Question 4

what are the 3 methods of recording the crime scene?

Answer 4

photograph
sketch
notes

Question 5

what are the key elements of photographing the crime scene?

Answer 5

Objects must not be moved until they’ve been photographed from all necessary angles (unless injured parties)
Where crime actually occurred + adjacent important areas

Question 6

what is the most important part about how crime scenes are photographed?

Answer 6

crime scene is unaltered

Question 7

what must the photographs include?

Answer 7

points of entry/exit, each wall and adjacent area, body position + location to crime, and close-ups for details (ruler for scale)

Question 8

when do notes at the scene begin?

Answer 8

when an investigator arrives at the scene

Question 9

what should notes begin with?

Answer 9

who contacted investigator, time of contact + arrival at scene, preliminary case info., and personal present on arrival and those being contacted

Question 10

what do notes contain

Answer 10

personal log, all observations made by investigator and what time

Question 11

in what format are notes taken?

Answer 11

Taken in uniform layout as observations are made
Written in bound notebook in blue or black ink

Question 12

what does the lead investigator do

Answer 12

start evaluation process

Question 13

3 steps of arriving at the crime scene

Answer 13

Boundaries of scene must be determined
Establish of perp’s path of entry/exit
Initial walk through of scene
(Gain overview of situation, Develop strategy for systematic examination and documentation of entire crime scene)

Question 14

how can you prevent bias at the scene?

Answer 14

no pertinent evidence can be overlooked (thorough + systematic evaluation)

Question 15

what does the search depend on?

Answer 15

location and size of area as well as suspects and victims at scene

Question 16

direct evidence

Answer 16

1st hand observations, eyewitnesses, video, confessions

Question 17

circumstantial evidence

Answer 17

Implies fact, but does not directly prove it

Question 18

class evidence

Answer 18

object that has characteristics common to a group of similar objects

Question 19

individual evidence

Answer 19

object with a really high probability of being linked to one source

Question 20

JonBenet Ramsey evidence

Answer 20

biological samples from the scene could help identify or exclude potential suspects, analysis of fingerprints on various objects could provide leads on intruders or family members, hair and fiber analysis could link suspects to the scene or establish a timeline of events, and examining any digital evidence for communication could uncover motives or threats

Question 21

JonBenet Ramsey errors

Answer 21

Friends and family were allowed to enter the crime scene, compromising potential evidence. JonBenét’s body was carried downstairs by her father, before investigators arrived.
Important forensic evidence may have been overlooked or contaminated due to a lack of immediate and proper procedures.

Question 22

Physical Evidence

Answer 22

encompasses any and all objects that can establish that a crime has been committed

Provide a link between a crime and its victim, or a crime and its perp.
Effective only when 1st used a crime scene
Anything from massive objects to microscopic traces

Question 23

packaging evidence

Answer 23

Dry wet evidence prior to packaging to prevent mold.
Allow for air circulation (paper).
No plastic bags, sealed tubes, or jars (unless it is tissue, tox samples, or arson evidence).
Biological items should be dried and kept in the freezer.
Package separately.
Minimal handling - avoid talking/coughing over evidence.
Tape seal package with initials before leaving scene.

Question 24

evidence must be handled with

Answer 24

gloves or forceps

Question 25

how should you package the evidence?

Answer 25

must be placed in appropriate container for storage
Separate bags with labels, and obtain standards/reference samples for later comparison

Question 26

chain of custody

Answer 26

written list of all people that came into contact with that evidence

Question 27

details about the woodchipper case

Answer 27

Victim: Helle Craft
Suspect: Richard Craft
Relationship: Married, Witness: Neighbor and friends
Expert: Dr. Henry Lee (director of forensic science in Connecticut), and Dr. Levine named the body as Helle by the leftover teeth)
Evidence: Red blood cells found on the bed where Helle was said to be murdered (biology) and human remains including; bones (anthropology), hair (biology), fingernail polish (physical science), part of a finger (biology).