Chapter 2

Question 0

The note taking process begins ____________ an officer gets a call to the scene of a crime.

Answer 0

as soon as

Question 1

An investigators field notes are his or her most __________________ record of the crime scene search. They may be the most important steps in initially documenting a crime scene.

Answer 1

personal and readily available

Question 2

Allow victims and witnesses to _________________ what occurred. Be sure they answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how of what occurred.

Answer 2

state in their own words

Question 3

Key points included in the note taking process include: (what to write down) The following are examples of some of the essential aspects of information:

Answer 3

Dates times and locations
Description of victim
Wounds of the victim
Overall description of the crime scene
Notes on photographs taken on the scene
Type and location of each piece of evidence
Absence of items

Question 4

Officers should develop their own systems of note taking but should not move into _________ because field notes may be required later as evidence in court.

Answer 4

“Shorthand”

Question 5

Are a means to aid an investigators recall at the time that he or she prepares the official detailed investigative report

Answer 5

Field notes

Question 6

Field notes should be stored in a safe place to avoid _______________.

Answer 6

loss or tampering

Question 7

If a digital recorder is used instead of a notebook transcripts should be made and the recording media should be protected as ____________ and to ensure it does not become inadvertently erased or damaged during transportation or storage.

Answer 7

evidence

Question 8

Field notes can be required as _________ by the court

Answer 8

evidence

Question 9

The police report is the ____________ of the offense and a record of investigative steps taken to solve the crime.

Answer 9

formal record

Question 10

As with field notes the rule of thumb is to seek answers to the questions

Answer 10

Who,what,when,why ,how ,and ,where

Question 11

Key items in structure of a police report include:

Answer 11

Preliminary information
Information from victims witnesses and others at the crime scene
Physical evidence
Modus operandi

Question 12

Use of digital video at crime scenes has several key advantages:

Answer 12

Can begin recording at extreme perimeters of the scene and walk closer and closer to the specific objects in question lending greater perspectives to photographs

It can easily be used in the courtroom

Question 13

Digital video at crime scenes has several key advantages

Answer 13

Prosecutors can view the evidence moments after recording
Use of the freeze frame feature allows viewers to stop the recording at a critical point for a closer view of the subject being documented
Individual photographs can be made directly from digital video which may be useful to the investigation or prosecution of the case

Question 14

Digital video recordings should be made ________ still photographs are taken.

Answer 14

before

Question 15

The key requirements for admitting a photograph into evidence are:

Answer 15

Relevance-the photograph will not unduly confuse or deceive the trier of fact
Authentication-the photograph is accurate and correct. The most important requirement is authentication

Question 16

When photographing a crime scene there can never be ________ pictures.

Answer 16

too many

Question 17

Photographs are usually taken in three stages:

Answer 17

General views, medium range views, and close up views

Question 18

Sweeping views of the crime scene area

Answer 18

General views

Question 19

Taken from a distance of no greater than 20 feet away from the subject or item being photographed depicting specific items or objects in the crime scene

Answer 19

Medium-range views

Question 20

Taken at a distance of less than 5 feet focusing on small segments of a larger surface or on specific items in the scene

Answer 20

Close-up views

Question 21

Key factors in photographing crime scenes include:

Answer 21

PERSPECTIVE-shows the relationship between one item of evidence and another
If item smaller than 6 inches two photos should be taken. First in close range second from at least 6 feet away
SUITABLE LIGHTING-use artificial lighting such as floodlights avoid unnecessary shadows, which hide details.
USE OF MARKERS-enables the viewer of photo to get a sense of the size of the object or the distance between objects. Take photo first before placement of markers and then take second photo of same setting when markers in place

Question 22

_______ may be the most important step in documenting a crime scene initially.

Answer 22

Notes

Question 23

The notes taken at a crime scene must adequately reflect the ________________ at the time of the crime scene search.

Answer 23

condition and state of the location

Question 24

These are used when patrol officers happen on people that appear suspicious but there is not sufficient cause for arrest. This card is used to document names addresses and filed.

Answer 24

FI cards (field interview cards)

Question 25

Using a digital recorder, investigators can make __________about the scene.

Answer 25

more detailed memos

Question 26

A drawback to use of digital recorders is the difficulty to review his notes on __________.

Answer 26

short notice

Question 27

The original notes must be provided in court whenever possible

Answer 27

Best evidence rule (cheadle v barwell 1933)

Question 28

Original notes are the archetype from which other documents are copied and duplicated. If original notes cannot be located photocopies may be used pursuant to a reasonable explanation to the court. Relates to what court case?

Answer 28

Arenson v Jackson

Question 29

An important three pronged rule of thumb to remember is that official reports should be _______________ because they will be under close scrutiny when case goes to court

Answer 29

Factual, thorough, and to the point

Question 30

In writing the narrative section of report the officer should be concerned with two basic items

Answer 30

Presentation and diction (choice and use of words)

Question 31

Initial complaint depicts an “at a glance” summary of the investigation.

Answer 31

Fact sheet or initial page

Question 32

This report is considerably longer than the initial complaint because it goes in much greater detail on pertinent aspects of the case.

Answer 32

Supplemental report

Question 33

Interior scenes should depict the entire area, by __________ from one scene to the next working in one direction around the room.

Answer 33

overlapping photos

Question 34

Fox and Cunningham suggest at least two photographs of the dead body at 90 degree angles to each other with camera placed ___________ pointing downward toward the body.

Answer 34

as high as possible

Question 35

It is recommended that notes be taken in a __________ in the event defense attorneys later charge that pages were added or notes were deleted by the investigator

Answer 35

bound notebook