crime scene study guide

Question 1

chain of custody

Answer 1

every person who handled the object must be accounted for

Question 2

autopsy

Answer 2

series of tests performed on body to determine the presence of injury

Question 3

crime scene processor

Answer 3

documents & preserves all physical evidence

Question 4

evidence clerk

Answer 4

manages all aspects of digital evidence storage and distribution (audio, video, photos)

Question 5

forensic technician

Answer 5

collects and analyzes evidence

Question 6

trace evidence examiner

Answer 6

maintain chain of custody

Question 7

paint database

Answer 7

(PDQ) International Forensics Automotive Point Data Query

Question 8

DNA database

Answer 8

(CODIS) Combined DNA Index System

Question 9

fingerprint database

Answer 9

(IAFIS) Integrated Automated Fingerprint System

Question 10

bullet database

Answer 10

(NIBIN) National Integrated Ballistics Info Network

Question 11

systems needed for life

Answer 11

respiratory
circulatory
central nervous

Question 12

clinical death

Answer 12

no breath, heartbeat, brain activity

Question 13

legal death

Answer 13

no brain activity, but heart could still work

Question 14

algor mortis

Answer 14

cooling of the body

Question 15

livor mortis

Answer 15

discoloration of the body

Question 16

rigor mortis

Answer 16

stiffening of the body

Question 17

manner of death

Answer 17

describes how a death occurs
ex) homicide, suicide

Question 18

cause of death

Answer 18

underlying medical condition, disease, or injury that results in death
ex) heart disease, cancer

Question 19

judge

Answer 19

decides the value of evidence

Question 20

evidence that maggots can provide

Answer 20

-when they died
-if they have been moved
-where it took place

Question 21

why must all evidence be package separately?

Answer 21

prevent damage through contact & cross contamination

Question 22

physical evidence

Answer 22

any and all objects that can link a crime to its victim
ex) hair fibers, fingerprints, blood

Question 23

notes

Answer 23

constant & describe all details

Question 24

photos

Answer 24

unaltered, all evidence photographed

Question 25

sketches

Answer 25

gives an idea of how the scene was laid out

Question 26

what is the greatest value of class physical evidence?

Answer 26

ability to link events with data that is nearly free of error

Question 27

lead investigator

Answer 27

-establishes entry & exit
-documents the scene
-photographs, does initial walk-through
-develop strategy for examining & documenting scene

Question 28

substrate control

Answer 28

uncontaminated surface material close to evidence to use for lab tests

Question 29

decomposition

Answer 29

-1 week on land
-2 weeks in water
-8 weeks buried

Question 30

putrefaction

Answer 30

bacteria breaks down body
-green abdomen (24-48 hours)
-marbling of skin
-bloating (60-70 hours)

Question 31

adipocere

Answer 31

-fat converts to waxes
-damp, warm environment
-resists other decomp

Question 32

mummification

Answer 32

drying of the body

Question 33

forensic entymology

Answer 33

the study of insects relating to legal issues
*insects to not change the decay process of the body but RESPOND to it