Criminal Investigations

Question 1

CSI syndrome

Answer 1

people assume that what happens on TV happens in real life. they assume there is always scientific evidence

Question 1

primary goals of CI

Answer 1

determin whether a crime was committed

Question 2

rule 803, exceptions to hearsay

Answer 2

contemporaneous notes, confessions

Question 3

characteristics of effective notes

Answer 3

complete, factual, accurate, specific, legible, chronological order

Question 4

advantages to photographing the crime scene

Answer 4

closer detail, no irrelevant info, more versatile

Question 5

advantages to videoing the crime scene

Answer 5

help with layout, can capture missed evidence

Question 6

what to photograph

Answer 6

a mix of close up, medium, and long shots

Question 7

different ways to sketch a crime scene

Answer 7

rectangular, base line, triangular

Question 8

what do you need in order to get a warrant?

Answer 8

probable cause, in detail place to be searched and items to be seized

Question 9

direct evidence

Answer 9

witness, video tapes. You don’t need other evidence to explain it.

Question 10

Indirect evidence

Answer 10

you need other evidence to explain it. finger prints, etc.

Question 11

Exclusionary rule

Answer 11

you cant use evidence gathered illegally

Question 12

inevitable discovery exception

Answer 12

exception to exclusionary rule, evidence would have been found anyways

Question 13

good faith exception

Answer 13

exception to the exclusionary rule, officers were acting in good faith

Question 14

what technology needs a warrant?

Answer 14

GPS tracking, thermal imaging

Question 15

exigent circumstances

Answer 15

exception to exclusionary rule, danger to life, danger of escape, danger of removal

Question 16

when is a warrantless search of a vehicle okay?

Answer 16

if there is probable cause, and the vehicle is likely to be driven away.

Question 17

what is a search for inventory purposes?

Answer 17

exigent circumstance, when officers catalog what is in the vehicle

Question 18

exculpatory evidence

Answer 18

evidence that most likely proves someone is innocent

Question 19

Brady rule

Answer 19

if the prosecution has exculpatory evidence they have to give it to the defense

Question 20

probative (inculpatory) evidence

Answer 20

evidence that most likely proves the guilt of someone

Question 21

chain of custody

Answer 21

establish who had the evidence at what time and where or it may become inadmissible in court

Question 22

standard of comparison

Answer 22

something to compare evidence against

Question 23

biometric evidence

Answer 23

measurement of something that is alive.

Question 24

proof continuum

Answer 24

1. conviction (without a reasonable doubt
2. arrest (probable cause)
3. search (probable cause)
4. stop and frisk (reasonable suspicion)