Criminal Inv-Chapter 3, Crime Scene

Question 1

Criminal investigation is

Answer 1

a lawful search for people and things useful in reconstruction an illegal act or omission and analysis of the mental state accompanying it.

Question 2

objective of a criminal investigation is

Answer 2

to determine truth as far as it can be discovered in any inquirey

Question 3

successful investigations are based upon

Answer 3

fidelity, accuracy and sincerity

Question 4

successful management of a crime scene involved three major functions

Answer 4

1. render crime scene safe and control movement of persons and officers into and out of area
2. crime scene investigators who conduct the search for evidence and also preparer the proper documentation of the crime scene
3. search for witnesses

Question 5

first responders responsibiliity

Answer 5

neutralize the crime scene- making it safe, arrest of suspects, elimination of any hazards

Question 6

retroactive interference

Answer 6

when witnesses discus the crime or overhear others talking about the crime scene, they tend to adopt some of this info as their own or alter their recollection to fit with those other witnesses.

Question 7

broadcast alarm

Answer 7

getting basic suspect info out to the field officers in a timely manner is of critical importance

Question 8

search for evidence starts with

Answer 8

effective protection of crime scene.

Question 9

scene intact

Answer 9

searcher be certain that nothing has been removed from or added to the scene since the arrival of responding officers

Question 10

chronological log

Answer 10

tinme-based log that documents when an officer enters and leaves the scene.

Question 11

crime reporting has made up ___of all coverage in local television newcasts.

Answer 11

one-third

Question 12

single-officer search

Answer 12

associates of this single officer often assist in locating evidence, but they do not disturb it or collect it. Goal is to limit the number of officer in possession of crime scene eveidence to the officer searching the scene.

Question 13

When search covers a wide area, availablle officers are assigned into teams,

Answer 13

one member of each team serves as the single officer collecting evidence.

Question 14

systematic searching methods

Answer 14

1. point-to-point-movement- following a chain of objects that arre obviously evidence,.
2. ever-widening circle-officer start at the focal point of the scene or center of security area and works outward by cicling in a clockwiswe direction until the fringes of the protected area are reached
3. ever-narrowing circle- reverse of an ever-widening circle, officer starts on outskirts
4. zone or grid search- plotted like a football field, working back and forth until field is covered. Grid search is started after the strip search covering the rightr angles to the previous search

Question 15

support the search as a systematic examination of the scene.

Answer 15

field notes

Question 16

search of deceased person is often assigned to

Answer 16

field rep of the coroners or medical examiners office.

Question 17

prerequisite to successful searching is

Answer 17

ability to discover and recognize evidence

Question 18

modus operandi

Answer 18

victim or method of operation of the offender

Question 19

Locards exchange principle

Answer 19

suspects will bring items of evidence into the crime scene and will take items with them when they leave. This exchange of trace evidence involves such items of evidence as hairs, fibers,dirt, dust, blood, body fluids, skin cells, and other microscipic materials.

Question 20

___of evidence is maintained by keeping it in its orgininal state

Answer 20

integrity

Question 21

Evidence likely to be found at crime scenes and amendable to scientific analysis is divided into severn major groups

Answer 21

1. weapons
   2 blood and body fluids
   3.imprints or impressions
2. marks of tools used to gain access to locked
3. dust and dirt traces
4. questioned documents
5. misc trace or tranfer evidence, including hair, fibers, skin cells

Question 22

Marking evidence serves to ___

Answer 22

identify

Question 23

Traditional marking of objects includes

Answer 23

investigators initials, date, report number.

Question 24

Counterfeit money should have a ___

Answer 24

dual marking. name of person last in possession shoudl be signed across a corner of bill. scratch his initilas on a coin

Question 25

chain of custody

Answer 25

continuity of possession. must be established when evidence is offered in court as an exhibit,

Question 26

any deviation from standard procedures in processing physical evidence can affect

Answer 26

credibility and contribute t a reasonable suspicion in the minds of the triers of fact about the entire police investigation

Question 27

evidence must be packaged to

Answer 27

avoid breakage, loss or contamination in transit

Question 28

used for transporting evidence over short distances

Answer 28

evidence box or board

Question 29

to obviate any allegation of cross-contamination

Answer 29

evidence that will undergo comparison analysis for possible relationship should be packaged in seperate containers. no we or soiled materials or boxes or bottles should be used. clean and dry containers, wrapping paper, corrugated paper, boxes and sealing tape basis safeguards for physical evidence in transport

Question 30

using plastic envelopes and bags used to transport soil, debris, clothing that contain bloodstains, bacterial action contaminating the blood sampe becomes a strong possibility

Answer 30

use plastic containers with caution. To an unusual degree, they can act as greenhouses for the cultivation of mold that can destroy the integrity and identity of some types of evidence.

Question 31

use only tubes or vials with stoppers for

Answer 31

blood sampless and swatches use to collect bloodstains and follow directions on these kits for refrigeration and other care

Question 32

stain on a solid object than can be moved, such as firearm or other weapon, transport the object. if on clothing

Answer 32

wrap the garments seperately in paper, mark them an package them

Question 33

charred wood, carpet and drapery from a fire scene

Answer 33

wrap in metal foil and sealed in an airtight container.

Question 34

paper and rags or sold samples from a fire scene

Answer 34

sealed in the container in which they were found or placed in airtight bottles or cans. This prevents the fire accelerant and its residues from evaporating.

Question 35

caustic poison

Answer 35

should not be transported until the investigator has made certain that the container is safe for a period of time equal to at least twice the likely transport time

Question 36

food, body substances and fluids should be placed in

Answer 36

as many seperate moisture-proof bottles or containers as necessary to avoid any contamination of evidence.

Question 37

food or other substances suspected of containing or known to contain poison should be plainly labeled as suspected

Answer 37

known samples of poison

Question 38

microscopic traces, hairs, fibers should be sealed

Answer 38

in folded paper or placed in a clean sealed envelope or box of appropriate size

Question 39

known standard of evidence or a control

Answer 39

identification of physical evidence and the finding of its origin. This individualization of evidence often requires that physical evidence collected at at crime scene be matched with a known standard of evidence.

Question 40

transporting evidence to lab, to storage, to prosecutors office or courtroom is the responsibility of

Answer 40

investigator who found the evidence.

Question 41

when food or physiological fluids or substances are collected ____ ____is a primary precaution

Answer 41

temperature control

Question 42

refrigeration without freezing will prevent

Answer 42

deterioration

Question 43

physical evidence sent to a lab must be accompanied by an informative report. must be on official letterhead of the law enforcement agency and contain following

Answer 43

1 name and address of agency

2. crime classification of case by type and grade of offense
3. case number of agency
4. copy of offense report
5. list of evidence
6. list of suggested scientific examinations
7. brief statement of the problems in case
8. name and address of investigator

Question 44

shipped evidence to lab should be marked

Answer 44

evidence for examination and outside package written request for examination with notation Letter or Invoice indicating its location

Question 45

crime scene sketches and photographs

Answer 45

usually are offered in evidence as exhibits that are more realistic than words or that can assist jurors in understanding the case. they must withstand the basic tests of relevancy and materiality.

Question 46

early 1857 evidence was admitted as exhibits to clarify the verbal description of a medical witness in a Maine case

Answer 46

nonphotographic drawing of a doctor illustrating the appearance of blood as seen microscopically

Question 47

place an time to obtain data for a preliminary investigative report are

Answer 47

at the crime scene during the initial investigation.

Question 48

basic purpose of offense or crime report originates at the operational level

Answer 48

is to record and transmit information

Question 49

__ __ photography provides a permanent record of the facts at the crime scene

Answer 49

crime scene

Question 50

photographing a crime scene serves two purposes

Answer 50

provides a pictorial representation of the appearance and position of object at scene
it serves as evidence to support the testimony of the investigator as to what he found at scene, its location, nature and condition

Question 51

long-range photos

Answer 51

show the locale, the approach route, means of ingress to scene or its premises, view of scene from normal entrance

Question 52

mid-range photos

Answer 52

(10 to 20 ft) pinpoint a specific object of evidence or significant segment of the crime

Question 53

close-up photo

Answer 53

recording evidence in position and detail-location, nature and condition

Question 54

aerial photos

Answer 54

excellent for studying crimes in series to ascertain whether the locations of past crimes suggest a pattern of criminal behavior. excellent for locating outdoor crimes scenes or controlling search patterns

Question 55

to prove the corpus delicti, the essential elements of crime, a ______photograph is needed

Answer 55

close-up

Question 56

sectional photography reassures

Answer 56

the triers of fact that the entire surface of the item of evidence was examined

Question 57

basis reason for sketching a crime scene

Answer 57

to provide an in-depth understanding of the circumstances of the crime beyod the level of comprehension that can be attained solely by reading a written report or studying photographs