Forensic science final exam

When Isabelle joined the local crime unit, she was overwhelmed with the amount of physical evidence stored in evidence lockers. When she asked her supervisor why the department had retained so much evidence, what was the likely reply? "We have the storage space, so we decided to use it." "We have an obligation to retain physical evidence for 50 years." "We are waiting for DNA testing to improve so we can submit it." "We are considering a database to make the evidence searchable."

"We are waiting for DNA testing to improve so we can submit it."

Javi works at a firearms unit in a state crime lab. When he needs to find a match to a bullet that was recovered from a crime scene, which database does he search? NICS NCIC CJIS NIBIN

NIBIN

Which phrase BEST describes the role of beetles in the decomposition of human remains? omnivorous feeders predatory necrophagous scavengers semi-aquatic

predatory

Sean is a forensic specialist who develops composite visualizations using DNA phenotyping. Which word BEST describes his work? artistic delicate predictive conclusive

predictive

The case of Amanda Knox is included as an example of: a serial killer who evaded detection. prosecutors using mishandled evidence. laboratory workers falsifying reports. a crime solved through microbiomics.

prosecutors using mishandled evidence.

Which stage in the development of blowflies occurs between the larval stage and the adult stage? colonization stage pupal stage adolescent stage indigenous stage

pupal stage

Which phrase BEST describes the process of fragmentation? website visits creating invisible cookie data temporary files leaving signs of latent data unallocated data being aggregated into clusters related data getting stored in multiple locations

related data getting stored in multiple locations

The cases of John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy are included as examples of: crimes that traditional technologies solved. how information in a database can be missed. serial killers who evaded the law. criminals who were caught using a database.

serial killers who evaded the law.

Which factor can accelerate the deterioration of buried bones? insect activity scatter patterns gonial angle soil acidity

soil acidity

Computers use _____ to maintain space in _____. log files; spools temporary files; bandwidth swap files; memory visible files; cookies

swap files; memory

A body is lying on top of the ground and has become skeletonized. Approximately how long has the body been there if it is now skeletonized? two days one week five months eight months

eight months

Dominique is working on a case that requires imaging software, specifically Forensic Toolkit. Which feature would Dominique be needing if she is using this software? file compression image editing hex editing IP tracing

file compression

During his investigation, Sebastian observes something that looks like piles of rice. What is Sebastian seeing? fly eggs ant wings maggots mite colonies

fly eggs

Jeremy works at a place where the database NICS must be checked before selling products to customers. Based on this information, at what type of business does Jeremy work? fireworks shop bakery gun shop pharmacy

gun shop

Investigator Ramadi is analyzing a variety of devices that were seized from a gang leader during a recent weapons raid. Which device is MOST likely to provide Mr. Ramadi with insights into the gang leader's recent travels? his smartphone the computer in his house his internet browser his digital voice recorder

his smartphone

Ashanti is an investigator who recently used the MORIS database. What was she likely trying to do? understand a suspect's criminal history share vehicle information match DNA samples to known criminals identify suspects while in the field

identify suspects while in the field

In addition to understanding insect life and insect biology, what else does an entomologist study? insect chemistry insect history insect benefits insect behavior

insect behavior

Which ethical issue is associated with the use of facial recognition technology? using technology to analyze large amounts of data invasion of people's personal privacy reproduction of imagery without permission unlawful sharing of personal health information

invasion of people's personal privacy

Which challenge is the field of forensic science likely to face in the future? decreasing trends in cases conflicting technologies lack of resources limited credibility

lack of resources

When blowfly eggs hatch, what do they become? larvae maggots adult flies pupa

maggots

The method described for analyzing a crime scene based on maggot activity assumes that outdoor temperatures are in which range? mild chilly hot cold

mild

Everyday, law enforcement agencies _____ vast amounts of _____ in the course of their investigations. mine; data breach; information analyze; citizens generate; laws

mine; data

Which type of forensic expert is MOST likely to benefit from a virtual autopsy? arson investigators fingerprint experts odontologists trace evidence analysts

odontologists

Which phrase BEST describes the role of bees and wasps in the decomposition of human remains? omnivorous scavengers predatory killers necrophagous feeders vegetation seekers

omnivorous scavengers

Which phrase BEST describes the number of species of blowflies in the world? in the millions about two hundred less than one hundred over a thousand

over a thousand

Darren is a forensic biologist who works in the new field of palynology. What area of biology does he study to help solve crimes? bacteria insects pollens viruses

pollens

In her investigation, Julia is using the postmortem interval (PMI) to measure what? the timing between waves of insects on human remains the time since the victim lost their life the time since the first flies appeared on the body the interval between death and body discovery

the time since the victim lost their life

In addition to criminal tampering, which is another way that evidence can be contaminated? by intentional damage through human error by new testing techniques through willful inaction

through human error

Mia is measuring the size of maggots found on human remains. What is Mia trying to determine? time since colonization original location of remains variations in larval structure manner of death

time since colonization

What does the PMI indicate? time since colonization time since birth time since death time since growth

time since death

Which phrase BEST describes the goal of the Innocence Project? to advocate for the rights of pre-trial suspects to recommend standards for forensic testing to free people who were wrongfully convicted to develop a database of criminal cases

to free people who were wrongfully convicted

A digital forensics expert at the regional FBI lab is examining the contents of a swap file on a seized hard drive. Why is she doing this? to find out if the drive was locked by the user to ensure the drive can't be swapped remotely to check the drive for any ambient data to see if the swap file contains any visible data

to see if the swap file contains any visible data

Tim is working on a case in which the victim may have taken drugs. In order to confirm his suspicion, which tool would Tim use to see if insects have ingested drugs during the process of colonizing the human remains? toxicology analysis polymerase chain reaction scanning electron microscope time since colonization

toxicology analysis

Which is MOST associated with the creation of orphaned data? unallocated disk space visible file locations IP addresses data logs

unallocated disk space

Addison works in a general area of entomology that is NOT medical/legal or stored products. Which area must Addison then work in? civil rural water urban

urban

The case of the postmaster and the ferry skipper hinged upon an understanding of ____ and its effect on _____. weather, fly reproduction ocean conditions, temperature genetics, DNA insect behavior, forensics

weather, fly reproduction

Takumi is examining the skull of an unidentified victim at the forensics laboratory. In particular, he is focusing in on some apparent damage to the right temporal area of the skull. What will Takumi want to understand about this damage? the age and sex of the damaged skull when the damage occurred if similar damage can be found in other areas if the damage is mentioned in missing persons reports

when the damage occurred

Adult blowflies have begun to appear on a dead body. How long has the body been in place if this is happening? 0 to 60 minutes 3 to 4 hours 12 to 18 hours 1 to 3 days

0 to 60 minutes

How long after a blowfly reaches maturity does it begin reproduction? 2-3 hours 3-4 days 5-18 days 21-25 days

5-18 days

Fran is a digital forensics expert working on an investment fraud case. She's examining the contents of two hard drives that were seized during a police raid. Which step is Fran likely to perform FIRST? Install the Forensic Toolkit. Conduct a search of visible files. Scan the drives for hidden files. Create images of both drives.

Create images of both drives.

Yassar, a DNA analyst at a state crime lab, faces a constant backlog of work. What is a LIKELY cause? increases in the number of crimes new data gathered through forensic pathology improvements in evidence collection techniques DNA evidence submitted from old cases

DNA evidence submitted from old cases

Mali is an investigator who wants to identify a potential suspect using the CODIS database. What type of data is Mali needing to access? trace evidence information information about crime statistics DNA profiles of criminals fingerprint samples from crime scenes

DNA profiles of criminals

_____ allow(s) investigators to _____ information across legal jurisdictions. Suspects; track Databases; share Technology; write Crimes; create

Databases; share

Which organization maintains the National Crime Information Center? NCIS CJIS OSHA FBI

FBI

CODIS collects information on paint and other types of trace evidence. True False

False

Despite technological advancements, the digital investigator's work hasn't changed much. True False

False

Fragmentation is the process of breaking data down to find its smallest components True False

False

In general, sex cannot be determined from the bones of a person. True False

False

One advantage of virtual autopsies is that they are inexpensive. True False

False

The methods for positively identifying a species and its life cycle stage have not fundamentally changed in the past 200 years. True False

False

Which milestone in the history of entomology occurred in the 1850s? Forensic scientists develop genetic tests to help identify insect species. Entomologists conduct the first studies of insect-human interaction. Forensic entomology is first used in a criminal case. Scientists observe insects on buried remains.

Forensic entomology is first used in a criminal case.

Which phrase BEST describes an ethical issue of forensic testing? Forensic scientists must accurately interpret test results. Evidence testing is no longer reliable. Automation is creating new concerns about reliability. Forensic scientists are less susceptible to error.

Forensic scientists must accurately interpret test results.

Maci is forensic vehicle expert. Which technology has increased the usefulness of the evidence that Maci gathers from vehicles? iris scans palynology CODIS GPS

GPS

Jessie supervises a full-service crime lab. Her lab is likely to include each unit EXCEPT a(n): document unit biology unit firearms unit HVAC unit

HVAC unit

Which of these accomplishments is attributed to Song Ci? He popularized the art of beekeeping in ancient times. He wrote a book noting the impact of insects on human remains. He solved early criminal cases by timing the life cycles of insects. He noted that flies were the first insects to find human remains.

He wrote a book noting the impact of insects on human remains.

_____ is to fingerprints as _____ is to crime statistics. IAFIS; UCR/NIBRS NCIS; NCIC CODIS; NIBIN ATF; CJIS

IAFIS; UCR/NIBRS

Which is a limitation of DNA phenotyping? It can only be used to identify possible suspects. It can't be used if the DNA is old or damaged. It can't be used to determine a suspect's age. It can only be used when the source of the DNA is known.

It can't be used to determine a suspect's age.

Why is the case of the French couple and the mummified baby included when discussing forensic entomology? It is an early example of forensic entomology. It is an early example of post-mortem interval (PMI). It is an early example of insect life. It is an early example of colonization.

It is an early example of forensic entomology.

Which describes the function of a hex editor? It is used to read files at the binary level. It is used to convert visible data to latent data. It provides a method for recovering graphic files. It is used to show the location of visible data.

It is used to read files at the binary level.

Lucas is an investigator who is examining some pelvis bones. He determines they likely belonged to a female rather than a male. What would Lucas have noticed about the pelvis to determine this? It is larger. It is narrower and deeper. It is wider and shallower. It has a deeper sacrum.

It is wider and shallower.

Which figure in the development of forensic entomology is associated with the "wave" theory of insect infestation? Francesco Redi Marcel Bergeret Hermann Reinhard John Pierre Megnin

John Pierre Megnin

______ is a sign of aging in bones, just as ____ is a sign of aging in teeth. Osteoarthritis, decay Sponginess, brittleness Hardening, odontology Dehydration, dentition

Osteoarthritis, decay

Which phrase BEST describes why DNA tests sometimes give misleading results? DNA kits vary in accuracy, with some as low as 60 percent. Testing methods are sensitive and can pick up extraneous DNA. Many forensic labs lack training in testing DNA.

Testing methods are sensitive and can pick up extraneous DNA.

Which is a potential problem with the trial testimony of forensic experts? The experts may not explain the evidence accurately. The trial judge may not allow certain types of testimony. The evidence that they present may be too general. The jury may need specific terms defined for them.

The experts may not explain the evidence accurately.

Which milestone in the history of entomology occurred in the 1600s? Entomologists conduct the first studies of insect-human interaction. Forensic scientists develop genetic tests to help identify insect species. Evidence gathered by forensic entomologist is used in a criminal case. The idea that insects appear spontaneously in meat is challenged.

The idea that insects appear spontaneously in meat is challenged.

Ethan is forensic expert who has been assigned a homicide case. The crime occurred at a crowded party, so Ethan wants to locate potential witnesses by looking at the victim's Facebook account. His goal is to analyze the images of the victim's friends and develop a list of possible witnesses to interview. Which is a potential ethical problem with this approach? The victim may not have invited the perpetrator to the party. The search may infringe on the privacy rights of the victim's friends. The possible witnesses might not have Facebook accounts. Ethan may need a search warrant to access this information.

The search may infringe on the privacy rights of the victim's friends.

When a man was suspected of poisoning his wife, digital forensic investigators got a warrant to analyze all of the PCs in his home. One of the PCs contained evidence of some suspicious internet searches, including searches for terms like "rat poison" and "arsenic." Police concluded that the person who made these searches knew little about computers or the way browsers work. Why did investigators think this was the case? The user didn't employ advanced search techniques. The user didn't clear the internet cache. The user didn't bother to adjust log files. The user didn't shut down the PC properly.

The user didn't clear the internet cache.

Yousef is a forensic investigator working at a metropolitan crime lab. While examining a set of unidentified remains, he notes that the victim's permanent teeth were not completely in. From this, what did he conclude? The victim was female. The victim may have been moved after death. The victim was approximately six. The victim was likely an infant.

The victim was approximately six.

Nanami is examining a partial skeleton that was uncovered during a recent excavation project. Nanami noted evidence of advanced decay in the small bones along the spinal column. From this, what did she conclude? The rest of the bones are probably nearby. They are likely the bones of a Caucasian female. They belong to a person who lived hundreds of years ago. They belong to someone who lived past middle age.

They belong to someone who lived past middle age.

Why are adult maggots typically collected from the crime scene first? They have the ability to move off the remains when disturbed. They provide the most valuable information related to PMI. They need to be stored in containers, due to their size. They may die when the human remains are removed.

They have the ability to move off the remains when disturbed.

When the police collected fingerprints at the scene of a recent bank robbery, they submitted the evidence to the CODIS system and waited for the results. What gave them hope that their search would produce a match? They knew the suspect had been involved in other crimes. They understood how the CODIS database was organized. They knew the suspect drove to the robbery in a vehicle. They suspected that some DNA evidence might be testable.

They knew the suspect had been involved in other crimes.

A scanning electron microscope may be used to distinguish between the eggs of different insect species. True False

True

E-FIT and similar software compares people's faces. True False

True

For bodies left on the surface of the ground, bone rot begins to occur after about 12 years. True False

True

Necrophagous insects (insects that feed on decomposing flesh) are the first insects to appear on human remains. True False

True

One of the challenges of collecting insect samples from human remains is the potential for disturbing the crime scene. True False

True

The data in a swap file often comes from RAM. True False

True

There is some controversy about trying to determine the race of a person from their bones. True False

True

Mieko is a criminologist doing research on violent crime in various US cities. Which database would be MOST valuable to her work? IAFIS NIBIN CODIS UCR/NIBRS

UCR/NIBRS

Antione works as a digital security analyst for a private investigative firm. Today he is examining a removable drive from an employee's computer. Which is the best tool for determining the contents of this drive? a checksum algorithm a Faraday bag a forensic computer a photo editor

a forensic computer

fter she witnessed an armed robbery in broad daylight, Desiree was asked to help the police produce a composite image of the suspect using FACES. Which phrase BEST describes the process Desiree will be following? recording a "snapshot" from her memory adding layers to a virtualized face analyzing security camera images for guidance adjusting elements to refine an image

adjusting elements to refine an image

In addition to ground penetrating radar and cadaver dogs, which is an evidence gathering tool used by forensic anthropologists? aerial photography odontology epiphyseal fusion facial reconstruction

aerial photography

Matteo is a forensic investigator who needs to create unique identifying codes for the hard drives they image. What would Matteo use to achieve this? a swap file an internet protocol an algorithm a network interface card

an algorithm

Before the era of databases, homicides were typically investigated: as standalone events. by federal crime units. with coordinated effort. based on trace evidence.

as standalone events.

Which aspect of fly biology can be better understood using potassium permanganate staining? body structure mass weight toxicology PMI

body structure

Osteology is to _____ what _____ is to teeth. cadavers; dental work forensics; dentistry bones; odontology sutures; decay

bones; odontology

Which word BEST describes investigative work in the current era of crime databases? laborious coordinated inefficient disconnected

coordinated

Tamiko is a forensic specialist who investigates crimes that occur over networks. Which of these cases would she be MOST likely to investigate? stolen hardware wire fraud cyberbullying data breaches

data breaches

Dr. Abadi specializes in solving cold cases using 3D printed facial reconstructions. Which BEST describes the advantages of using 3D printing for this purpose? the ability to include age ranges the accuracy of the printing the realism of the printable materials the multilayered approach of newer systems

the accuracy of the printing

Which factor can impact the timing of the blowfly lifecycle? the size of the person the air temperature the age of the person the presence of tree litter

the air temperature

Which part of the human skeleton goes through epiphyseal fusion around the age of 14? the elbow the jawbone the mastoid the brow

the elbow

Which area of entomology is associated with Bergeret d'Arbois? the study of the lifecycle of aquatic insects the behavior of spiders on human remains the estimation of postmortem intervals the "wave" theory of insect life cycles

the estimation of postmortem intervals

Freja is a forensic anthropologist who needs to estimate a victim's height. Which would Freja be looking at to determine the victim's height? the bones at the base of the skull the long bones of the arms and legs the short bones of the arms and legs the bones in the fingers and toes

the long bones of the arms and legs

Harry is taking samples of insects and making notes about his findings. Which is Harry NOT going to be noting during this process? the location of the body the temperature the sample collector's name the nearest source of water

the nearest source of water