Unit 1: Physical Evidence

Question 1

Tangible

Answer 1

Something that can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, etc and can be collected and analyzed in a crime lab

Question 2

Probative

Answer 2

Relevant to the case

Question 3

Testimonial Evidence

Answer 3

What someone says - A statement form police officers, witnesses, victims or suspects

Question 4

Class Evidence

Answer 4

Evidence that can be said to originate from a particular group only, NOT from a particular individual

Question 5

Individual Evidence

Answer 5

Evidence that can be said to have originated from a single individual

Question 6

Bench Trial

Answer 6

A trial with no jury; only the judge will hear the evidence and decide the verdict

Question 7

Jury Trial

Answer 7

A trial where 12 people plus 1 alternate will hear the evidence and decide the verdict

Question 8

Identification Test

Answer 8

A test to determine what a particular substance is; performed on the evidence sample

Question 9

Comparison Test

Answer 9

A test that analyzes both an evidence sample and a known sample then compares the results from the two to determine if they could have originated from the same source

Question 10

Positive Control

Answer 10

A test using a known substance that should give a definite POSITIVE result

Question 11

Negative Control

Answer 11

A test using a known substance that should give a NEGATIVE result

Question 12

Manipulation Bank

Answer 12

A test where a substance (usually plain water) is used; will check for contamination in the chemicals used to conduct the test

Question 13

Evidence Sample

Answer 13

A sample collected from a victim, suspect or crime scene in connection with a crime

Question 13

Database

Answer 13

A collection of known samples from known sources analyzed with currently used, proven methods

Question 14

Probability

Answer 14

The frequency of the occurence of an event

Question 14

Known Sample

Answer 14

A sample collected from a known source with a proven chain of custody (such as a cheek swab from a suspect for DNA analysis)

Question 15

What are 3 types of identification tests?

Answer 15

Identifying a body fluid on evidence (such as blood, semen, or saliva)

Identifying a white powder is a certain drug like heroin or methamphetamine

Determining that a pile of glass recovered from the wound of a hit-and-run victim was auto glass

Question 16

Give 3 examples of comparison tests.

Answer 16

Comparing the DNA profile of semen recovered from a sexual assult victimto the DNA profile of the suspect

Comparing the tire tread pattern left at the scene of a homiced to the tire tread pattern of the suspects vehicle

Camparing the striations on a bulleet recovered from the body of a homiced victim to the striations on a bullet fired from the suspects gun

Question 17

What are 3 examples of class evidence?

Answer 17

Hair (Looking at it under the microscope) Accelerant of a fire like gasoline

Drug evidence, Fibers Auto, paint or glass

Plant material (you could tell the species of plant, but not the individual plant)

Question 18

What are 3 examples of individual evidence?

Answer 18

Fingerprints, DNA, Footwear impressions

Handwriting, Tire impressions

Toolmarks (including striations on bullets or cartridge cases)

Question 19

Why is it important to always process evidence smaples PRIOR to processing known standards?

Answer 19

To prevent cross-contamination of the evidence sample with any material from the known sample

Question 20

Which type of evidence is most common at crime scenes? Class or Individual?

Answer 20

Class