Pre course material

Question 1

Describe the forensic identification field assessment

Answer 1

Minimum 3 month evaluation period at the apprentice’s substantive unit where the candidate completes pre Canadian police college forensic identification course material.

Question 2

The forensics identification apprentice training program consist of how many phases

Answer 2

Three phases

1) FIFA
2) Forensic Identification Course
3) Apprenticeship

Question 3

What is meant by a forensic identification certification board

Answer 3

Qualification board consists of three forensics identification specialists who will administer an examination consisting of an oral question/answer portion and a moot trial to evaluate if the FIS employee is qualified to give expert opinion testimony

Question 4

Who becomes a forensic identification specialist

Answer 4

An apprentice who successfully completes phase 3 of the FIATP and has been certified as a specialist by the director of IFIS

Question 5

Which forensic identification duty will take precedence over other forensic identification duties

Answer 5

The examination of crime scenes to locate evidence will take presidents over other forensics duties IFIM 2.4.1.1

Question 6

What is the primary function of a forensic identification member in relation to friction ridge impressions as stated in the IFIM

Answer 6

Complete an objective examination of the crime scene or exhibit to locate, mark, photograph and record friction ridge impressions IFIM 2.7

Question 7

What is the RCMP forensic identification services policy in preparation of evidence charts to support expert testimony

Answer 7

IFIM 2.7

1) prepare and use an illustrative chart for the impression identified in the case when tendering opinion evidence
2) only one chart for the impression having the greatest probable value regardless of the number of identified impressions
3) preparation of a friction ridge identification report for the impression that was charted for presentation in court

Question 8

What are the permitted conclusions for physical impression evaluations

Answer 8

1) identification
2) exclusion
3) inconclusive
4) Association of class characteristics
5) Higher degree of association

Question 9

What is the policy regarding forensic examination of major crime scene

Answer 9

1) At least 2 FI members will be involved in processing the crime scene with one qualified as a specialist
2) divisional manager may approve a technician as leader of the investigation
3) It’s appropriate forensic light sources will be used to search the crime scene or exhibits for evidence
4) measurements will be taken at the crime scene for the eventual creation of a crime scene plan drawing; digital devices can be utilized
5) 3-D impressions will be photographed and cast
6) for bloodletting crime scenes the FI member will:
- conduct a visual assessment of the blood evidence
- evaluate its probative value
- consider contacting bloodstain pattern analysis and determine if attendance is required
7) BPA Can instruct the member at the scene to record evidence for subsequent blood stain analysis
8) Requirement of Other SME’s can be discussed through the forensic assessment centre
9) The FI member will monitor any civilian expert at the crime scene and ensure appropriate follow up action is taken
10) When possible the FI members will be directly involved in investigators debriefing
11) Complete forms 6028 (if directed) and form 3407

Question 10

What criteria must be met in order for a person to be lawfully fingerprinted

Answer 10

Under the identification of criminals act it states that any person charged or convicted of an indictable offence; an offence under the security of Information Act or; a person apprehended under the Extradition act

Question 11

Where would you find your authority to fingerprint a young person

Answer 11

Section 113(1) of the YCJA states that the Identification of Criminals Act applies to young persons in any circumstance in which an adult, under that act, may be subjected to teh measurements, processes and operations (fingerprinting)

Question 12

Besides fingerprinting what other processes are sanctioned by the identification of criminals act

Answer 12

Finger print, palm print, photographs and any other processes having the objective of identifying the individual

• Height, weight, tattoos, etc.

Question 13

Does the identification of criminals act provide you with The authority to obtain fingerprints for comparison purposes

Answer 13

No

Question 14

Where will you find the legal authority to obtain foot impressions from an individual during an investigation

Answer 14

Section 487.092 of the criminal code: Impression warrant

Question 15

What are the four common law requirements stipulated in R vs Mohan (1984) In order for expert opinion evidence to be heard and excepted in court

Answer 15

1) relevance
2) necessity
3) properly qualified expert
4) Absence of an exclusionary rule

Canada has taken a middle ground, sometimes allowing for the exclusion of evidence, whenever its use threatens to bring the “administration of justice” into “disrepute.”

Question 16

What are the legal disclosure requirements stipulated under 657.3 Of the criminal code of Canada in regard to expert opinion evidence testimony

Answer 16

• 30 days prior to trial, give notice to other party of intention to bring forth a person as an expert witness
• provide name of witness, description of area of expertise, statement of qualifications, Anticipated opinion to be given
• provide copy of any reports prepared by witness

Question 17

Can a forensic identification member use any technique and equipment during the course of his or her duties

Answer 17

FIS employees will use standard FIS equipment, techniques and chemicals that have been approved by the Director, IFIS/Delegate. FIS employees who want to use a new technique or experiment with a chemical formulation must submit their request through their FIS unit Commander to the FIS divisional Manager.

Question 18

What must occur when a forensics identification member has been exposed to a biological or chemical hazard through inhalation, skin contact, ingestion or injection

Answer 18

• seek immediate medical assistance ASAP for the Post Exposure Prophylaxis Protocol
• Report the work related injury immediately to commander/supervisor
• complete form 3414

Question 19

Can all forensic identification members use specialize personal protective equipment at CBRNE and clandestine laboratories

Answer 19

No, only members with applicable training can use the specialized PPE

Question 20

When must a forensic identification member evaluate the types and levels of hazards present at a crime scene

Answer 20

Must be evaluated prior to entering any scene and continuously throughout the exam

Question 21

In the laboratory, where must all examinations using hazardous chemicals be performed

Answer 21

Within the appropriate vented fume hood or wet station area

Question 22

What is your responsibility when working in a potentially hazardous area

Answer 22

Ensure that the scene has been properly cleared by the general duty members. Do not enter a scene where the hazards dictate a level of PPE or health and safety awareness for which you do not have the appropriate level of training. Evaluate types of hazards present and perform an ongoing assessment. In situations where there are potentially unsafe working conditions consult with an SME (subject matter expert) prior to entry. Wear the appropriate level of PPE. Reprort any unsafe working conditions to the supervisor immediately. IFIM ch 2.1

Question 23

What is a WHMIS Label and why should hazardous materials be labelled

Answer 23

• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
• Used internationally to consistently and properly classify hazardous materials
• Ensures containers are properly labelled and have proper documentation
• includes information on the safe handling and health precautions

Question 24

What is the absolute minimum information a workplace label must have according to WHMIS legislation

Answer 24

• Product identifier
• Safe handling instructions
• Reference to MSDS

Question 25

According to WHMIS Legislation, what are the labelling requirements if hazardous material is kept in a container other than its original

Answer 25

If the product is not going to be used immediately or if it will be in the control of someone who did not decant it, it will need a "workplace label" (Product identifier, safe handling instructions, reference to the MSDS)

Question 26

Under WHMIS Who is responsible for labelling chemicals and chemical solutions

Answer 26

- Suppliers are responsible for labelling chemicals and chemical solutions - Employees and employers may also be responsible for re-labelling as directed, if; - Containers are changed or damaged, movement of chemicals from larger containers to small vials

Question 27

What is the mechanism within the RCMP recording it hazardous incident and who is responsible for making the report

Answer 27

The supervisor is responsible for making the report: 3414

Question 28

What is a material safety data sheet

Answer 28

Technical document that provides detailed information on a controlled product, including: - Proper storage and use - hazards related to a product handling - Health effects of exposure - Emergency procedures

Question 29

What personal protection measures are indicated on the MSDS for Ninhydrin

Answer 29

Safety goggles, gloves, vapour respirator, protective clothing

Question 30

Why does the MSDS for cyanoacrylate caution against the use of cotton gloves

Answer 30

Cyanoacrylate when in contact with cotton may catch fire

Question 31

What is a fingerprint impression

Answer 31

A fingerprint is what is left behind with the friction ridges press against a surface.

Question 32

Who was the first European to allude to the uniqueness of friction ridge skin

Answer 32

JCA Mayer A German doctor, alluded to its' uniqueness in a research paper during teh 1700's

Question 33

Who was the first person to start a fingerprint persistency study

Answer 33

German anthropologist Hermann Welcker 1856

Question 34

Often recognized as the father of fingerprinting, this person was the first to publish a scientific journal about the value of fingerprints as crime scene evidence

Answer 34

Doctor Henry Faulds 1880, he was the first to comment on the use of fingerprints to solve crime

Question 35

Who was Alphonse Bertillon and what was his contribution to the identification of criminals

Answer 35

French police officer who applied the anthropological technique of anthropometry to law-enforcement and subsequently created the anthropometry classification system (1882)

Question 36

Who was the first to identify and name specific friction skin minutiae and how are they defined

Answer 36

Sir Francis Galton, and they were: -uniting or dividing ridge, -begining or end of a ridge, -short island and -enclosure

Question 37

When was a fingerprint system established in Canada and under what legislative sanction

Answer 37

July 21, 1908 Order of counsel was passed sanctioning the use fingerprints

Question 38

When was the Canadian national fingerprint bureau established and how many sets of fingerprints were part of the original files

Answer 38

February 1911, on Wellington Street in Ottawa, across from Parliament 2042 fingerprints obtained by Edward Foster between 1906 and 1910

Question 39

What are the anatomical layers of human skin

Answer 39

Epidermis Dermis Hypodermis

Question 40

What are the functions of the anatomical layers

Answer 40

Epidermis - prevents water loss through evaporation - acts as a receptor organ for the sense of touch - provides a protective barrier for underlying tissues Dermis - layer of connective tissue that provides support and nourishment for the epidermis - network of cells, fibers, blood vessels and gelatinous material - serves as a blood reserve - participates in sensory reception and temperature regulation Hypodermis - loose connective tissue that contains a pad of adipose cells (fat) contours the body and serves as an energy reserve

Question 41

Where do you find volar skin

Answer 41

Underside of the hands and feet where there are friciton ridges

Question 42

What are the differences between volar skin and smooth skin

Answer 42

- smooth skin lacks friction ridges - smooth skin has hair and sebaceous glands - volar skin only has eccrine glands

Question 43

What is the concentration of eccrine sweat glands on friction skin

Answer 43

2,500 to 3,000 / 2.5cm squared The largest on the body

Question 44

What are the five layers of the epidermis

Answer 44

1) Stratum corneum 2) Stratum lucidum 3) Stratum granulosum 4) Stratum spinosum 5) Stratum basale

Question 45

Why is the epidermis divided into five layers

Answer 45

New cells are generated in the basal layer and are pushed towards the surface. As the cells move toward the surface, they undergo changes in chemical composition known as keratinization or becoming filled with keratin. Each layer displays distinct differences in chemical composition known as progressive differentiation.

Question 46

What are the effects of aging on skin

Answer 46

Loss of elasticity and flattening out of the ridges which causes the ridges to appear less sharp

Question 47

What type of injury cause a scar

Answer 47

Any injury that alters the basal layer template/infrastructure

Question 48

Using Alfred Hales research on the growth of friction skin, give a summary of the development of friction ridges

Answer 48

- 3 weeks; epidermis is one cell thick - 6 weeks; The hand is flat and paddle like, - 8 weeks; The fingers have separated and elongated - 10 weeks the thumb has rotated and the volar pads are prominent - 10 to 12 weeks flexion creases form on the palm - 10 to 13 weeks onward volar pads regress or are absorbed by the faster growth of the surrounding tissue - 12 to 13 weeks onward primary ridges form due to rapid division of basal cells the longest ridges form first and shorter ridges later. Ridges form first at the apex of the volar pad, the tip of the finger by the nail bed and at the platform ridges (interphalangial flexion crease) - 15 to 16 weeks Secondary ridges begin to appear, forming between exisiting ridges, primary ridges cease to develop in the areas that the secondary ridges form - 17-20 weeks; secondary ridges are established, FR’s are visible on the surface, final configuration does not change following the growth of the dermal papillea which fill the voids between the primary and secondary ridges

Question 49

What are volar pads

Answer 49

Volar pads are transient swelling of tissue called mesenchyme under the epidermis on the Palmer surface of the hands and soles of the feet of the human fetus

Question 50

What is meant by volar pad regression

Answer 50

As the volar pads slow the growth after the 10th - 11th week, Their contour becomes progressively less distinct as they are overtaken by the faster growth of the surrounding skin

Question 51

What are the three main fingerprint pattern groups

Answer 51

Whorls, Loops, Arches

Question 52

Define the arch pattern

Answer 52

ridges enter on one side of the impression, form a wave or arch and flow out the other side

Question 53

Define the tented arch pattern

Answer 53

Ridges enter one side and exit out the other and has a ridge going directly upward in the middle

Question 54

Define the loop pattern

Answer 54

One or more ridges enter on either side of the impression, recurve, touch or pass in imaginary line from the Delta to the core and exit on the same side

Question 55

Define the Whorl pattern

Answer 55

Has two deltas and at least one ridge making a complete circuit (spiral, oval, or cricle) An imaginary line drawn between two deltas must touch or cross at least one of the recurving ridges within the inner pattern area

Question 56

What are the two types of impressions recorded on the C-216

Answer 56

Rolled, plain

Question 57

What are the three types of fingerprints found a crime scenes

Answer 57

Latent, visible, moulded Latent, made of sweat and sebaceous oil, invisible to the naked eye and requires additional processing to be seen Visible, made by blood, grease, ink. or dirt, easily visible to the human eye Molded, three-dimensional impressions and can be made by pressing your finger in fresh paint, wax, soap or tar

Question 58

How are latent fingerprints or physical evidence developed at a crime scene to be marked prior to photographing and lifting

Answer 58

- circle the impression - assign a unique R or F number - date - file number - initials

Question 59

1,2-Indandione-zinc Solution can be used on what type of surface

Answer 59

Most effective on porous surfaces

Question 60

Which technique is recommended for developing fingerprints on wet or damp non-porous surfaces

Answer 60

Small particle reagent or Molybdenum Disulphide

Question 61

Why are friction ridges unique

Answer 61

Friciton ridges are unique due to a plethora of factors during fetal development which are collecitvely known as developmental noise. Developmental noise includes random growth, random timing and random pressure. Random growth is the thickness and thinness of the ridges, where the ridges start and stop, the size and shape of the edges, the location of the pores ect. Random timing refers to the onset of the various stages of development: are the volar pads already regressing when the primary ridge begin to form or are they still prominent and; when do the secondary ridges begin to form. Random pressure refers to the pressure inside the womb such as the fetus pushing against the utrus or sucking it's thumb and so on. All of these have direct impact on the growth of the ridges and result in their uniqueness.

Question 62

What ensures persistency of friction ridge skin

Answer 62

Friction ridges are persistent due to cell mitosis and structural elements. Cell mitosis is the process of the cells in the basal layer replicating their DNA. The new cell contains a complete copy of the DNA. The cells display pregressive differentiation as they move towards the surface, become filled with keratin and are sloughed off, but they maintain their configuration due to structural elements. Structural elements within the epidermis include hemidesmosomes which are fibres that bind the basal layer to the dermis and desmosomes with are protein bundles that bind the new cells to eachother. Dermal Papillae fit into pockets on the underside of the epidermis and teh sweat glands penetrate through the epidermis and anchor in the dermis.

Question 63

What is the purpose of a lens

Answer 63

To gather light transmitted from an object and bring them into sharp focus on the sensor

Question 64

What affects exposure of an image

Answer 64

Aperture, shutter speed, ISO

Question 65

How does a digital camera Capture an image

Answer 65

The aperture opens at the front of the camera Light enters through the lens A CCD or CMOS sensor captures the incoming light rays turns them into electrical signals These electrical signals are called pixels Pixels are assigned a number based on the colour and intensity of light received Image is stored in electronica format such as RAW, TIFF or JPEG

Question 66

What does ISO mean in digital photography

Answer 66

International standard organization Refers to the sensitivity of light; the higher the ISO number, the more sensitive the cameras internal sensor is to light

Question 67

What is the depth of field In photography

Answer 67

Area of acceptable sharp focus in front and behind the subject in which is being focussed on

Question 68

How can you increase your depth of field

Answer 68

1) use a shorter focal length lens 2) Increase the lens to subject (move further away) 3) use a smaller aperture; F22 has greater depth of field than F4 4) Re-focus on the hyper focal point

Question 69

What is meant by white balance in digital photography

Answer 69

Colour temperature of light measured in degrees kelvin

Question 70

What is the building block of a digital image

Answer 70

Pixels (picture element)

Question 71

What is meant by resolution and Digital imaging

Answer 71

Refers to the density of pixels in an image expressed as PPI. The greater the PPI The higher the quality of the image

Question 72

What are you doing when calibrating an image

Answer 72

Resizing the image so that it relates to a known measurement value

Question 73

When calibrating an image using the crop method in Photoshop should you use resampling

Answer 73

No

Question 74

What does the acronym LASER mean

Answer 74

Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation