crime scenes

Question 1

what is the goal of a crime scene inventigation

Answer 1

to recognize, document, and collect evidence at the scene of a crime

Question 2

what is locard’s exchange principle ( list both)

Answer 2

i.Whenever two objects come in contact with one another, a cross-transfer of physical evidence can occur
ii.The intensity, duration, and nature of the materials in contact determine the extent of the transfer

Question 3

what is direct evidence (list examples)

Answer 3

firsthand observations (eyewitness account, videos, confessions )

Question 4

what is circumstantial evidence ( list examples)

Answer 4

indirect evidence that can be used to imply a fact but does not directly prove it. Example: finding a suspect’s gun at a crime scene is circumstantial evidence that the suspect was there.

Question 5

what are the 3 different types of circumstantial evidence

Answer 5

physical, biological and trace

Question 6

what is physical evidence ( list examples)

Answer 6

synthetic fibers, weapons, bullets, shell casings, paint chips, documents, imprints and prints (shoes, tires, etc.), toolmarks, soil, drugs, etc.

Question 7

what is biological evidence ( list examples)

Answer 7

body or body parts, body fluids, hair, leaves or other plant parts, natural fibers, feathers, wood

Question 8

what is trace evidence ( list examples)

Answer 8

small but measurable amounts of physical or biological material found at a crime scene. Examples: strand of hair, fingerprint, DNA, drop of blood, pollen, gunshot residue

Question 9

evidence can also be divided into..

Answer 9

class and individual

Question 10

what is class evidence ( list examples)

Answer 10

narrows evidence to a group of persons or things
example: blood Type- can be A, B, AB, O. Finding one type at a crime scene narrows down the suspects to a smaller group

Question 11

what is individual evidence ( list examples)

Answer 11

narrows evidence down to a single person or thing
example: fingerprints, handwriting, DNA, and sometimes physical matches

Question 12

the crime scene investigation team

Answer 12

a group of professional investigators, each trained in a variety of special disciplines

Question 13

what is a district attorney

Answer 13

elected or appointed official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses

Question 14

true or false: it is not necessary for all people to wear protective gear at the crime scene

Answer 14

false. ALL people must wear protective gear to prevent contamination of the crime scene

Question 15

what does the first responding police officer do upon entering the crime scene

Answer 15

must make sure the scene is secure by first making sure all individuals in the area are safe and second by preserving evidence

Question 16

true or false: witnesses are allowed to talk to eachother

Answer 16

false, it prevent them from working together to create a story

Question 17

when questioning the witness, what questions should be asked?

Answer 17

1. When did the crime occur?
2. Who called in the crime?
3. Who is the victim?
4. Can the perpetrator be identified?
5. What did you see happen?
6. where were you when you observed the crime?

Question 18

what was the goal of the innocence project?

Answer 18

was to reexamine post conviction cases

Question 19

what is the greatest cause of wrongful convictions nationwide playing a role in nearly 75% of convictions to be overturned through DNA testing

Answer 19

eyewitness misidentifications

Question 20

what unit takes photos of the overall area and close up photos with and without a measuring ruler?

Answer 20

photography unit

Question 21

what main things should always be on an accurate rough sketch of the crime scene that is drawn to scale

Answer 21

1. north should always be labeled
2. scale of distance
3. all important objects ( body and weapon) should be measured from 2 immovable landmarks

Question 22

a ____, _____,_____ or _____ ______ should always be walked and location of evidence marked, photographed and sketched

Answer 22

spiral, grid, linear, or quadrant pattern

Question 23

true or false: a flashlight or blacklight may be used to help find trace evidence

Answer 23

true

Question 24

what can be used to pick up small items

Answer 24

metal or plastic forceps

Question 25

what kind of containers are liquids and arson remain stored in

Answer 25

airtight, unbreakable containers

Question 26

what kind of containers are hair, glass, fiber, and other kinds of trace evidence put in?

Answer 26

plastic pill bottles

Question 27

why are bloodstained materials packaged in wrapping paper, manila envelops, or paper bag?

Answer 27

to prevent the growth of mold which can destroy the evidential value of the blood

Question 28

charred debris from a fire must be sealed in an ?

Answer 28

airtight container

Question 29

what 2 things must always be attached to the evidence container?

Answer 29

an evidence log and a chain of custody

Question 30

what does the evidence log include?

Answer 30

description of evidence, name of suspect, name of victim, date and time of recovery, signature of person who is recovering the evidence, and signature of any witness present during collection

Question 31

chain of custody

Answer 31

a list of all the people who came into possession of an item of evidence

Question 32

true or false: control samples should always be taken from the victim for purposes of exclusion

Answer 32

true

Question 33

standard/reference sample

Answer 33

physical evidence whose origin is known, such as blood or hair from a suspect that can be compare to crime scene evidence

Question 34

when there is a bloodstained evidence. a whole blood sample ( withdrawn from a vein) or _____ swab must be obtained from all crime scene participants

Answer 34

buccal ( cheek )

Question 35

to whom are lab results sent too?

Answer 35

the lead detective

Question 36

true or false : evidence does not lie but it can be staged

Answer 36

true

Question 37

what should be concidered when determining if a crime scene is staged?

Answer 37

1. Initially treat all death investigations as homicides
2. Do the type of wounds on the victim match the weapon?
3. Could the wounds be easily self-inflicted?
4. Establish a profile of the victim through interviews with friends and family.
5. Evaluate the behavior (mood and actions) of the victim before the event.
6. Evaluate the behavior (mood and actions) of any suspects before the event.
7. Corroborate statements with evidential facts.
8. Reconstruct the event.

Question 38

any removal of evidence from a crime scene must be in accordance with the

Answer 38

4th amendment

Question 39

true or false: do not investigate a scene or remove evidence without a warrant

Answer 39

true

Question 40

in what circumstances can a crime scene be searched without a warrant?

Answer 40

i. under emergency circumstances (danger to life or limb)
ii. if there is immediate danger of the loss or destruction of evidence
iii. if there is probable cause — the search of a person and their immediate property in conjunction with a lawful arrest
iv. with the consent of the involved parties

Question 41

mistaken eyewitness identifications contributed to approximately __% of the more than 360 wrongful convictions in the united states

Answer 41

71

Question 42

what is a “double bind” procedure?

Answer 42

lineup is one in which neither the administrator nor the eyewitness knows who the suspect is

Question 43

what is a “ sequential presentation of lineups”

Answer 43

when combined with a “blind” administrator, presenting lineup members one-by-one (sequentially), rather than all at once (simultaneously), has been proven to significantly increase the overall accuracy of eyewitness identifications

Question 44

what is “ instructions”

Answer 44

are a series of statements issued by the lineup administrator to the eyewitness that deter the eyewitness from feeling compelled to make a selection. They also prevent the eyewitness from looking to the lineup administrator for feedback during the identification procedure. One of the recommended instructions includes the directive that the suspect may or may not be present in the lineup

Question 45

composing the lineup

Answer 45

Suspect photographs should be selected that do not bring unreasonable attention to the suspect. Non-suspect photographs and/or live lineup members (fillers) should be selected so that the suspect does not stand out from among the other fillers. Law enforcement should select fillers using a blended approach that considers the fillers’ resemblance to the description provided by the eyewitness and their resemblance to the police suspect

Question 46

confidence statments

Answer 46

Immediately following the lineup procedure, the eyewitness should provide a statement, in his own words, that articulates the level of confidence he or she has in the identification made

Question 47

true or false: the lineup procedure should be documented

Answer 47

true