Forensic Science Final Exam Review 2015

To formulate a successful strategy for recovering relevant physical evidence at crime scenes, what must the investigators ultimately rely on?

Experience

An expert witness gives testimony on events or observations that arise from personal knowledge

False

Forensic Science is the application of science to criminal laws only

False

Forensic odonatologists look at bones to identify victims

False

It is the responsibility of the forensic investigator to determine innocence or guilt

False

Physical evidence is subject to bias

False

Providing expert testimony is not one of the main functions of a Forensic Scientist

False

Soil Analysis is performed by the biology unit

False

The effectiveness of an expert's testimony does not usually depend on the educational background of the expert.

False

The examination of garments and other objects in order to detect firearm discharge residues would be performed in the biology unit

False

The concept of "general acceptance" of scientific evidence relates to what?

Frye Standard

Which of the Following wouldn't be included in the work of the biology unit of a crime lab?

Fingerprint Analysis

What area of Forensic Science is concerned with failure analysis, accident reconstruction, and causes and origins of fires or explosions?

Forensic Engineering

What area of Forensic Science examines the relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings?

Forensic Psychiatry

After providing medical assistance for the injured and arresting any suspects on the scene, the first officer should immediately:

Secure the scene

The size and location of crime scene as well as the events that occurred there will determine:

The kind of search pattern that will be used to locate evidence.

All illicit drug seizures must be sent to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory analysis

True

Evidence can be found on the walls and ceiling as well as on the floor at a crime scene

True

Locard's exchange principle states that, whenever two objects come into contact with one another, there is exchange of materials between them

True

Who is the final evaluator of Forensic evidence?

Jury

Performing a polygraph examination is not normally within the expertise of the forensic scientist

True

What is the name of the search pattern in which one or two investigators start at the boundary at one end of the scene and walk straight across to the other side?

Line

Which crime-scene search pattern does not require more than one investigator?

Line

Which search pattern is most reliable on the boundaries established?

Line

The Toxicology unit would determine the amount of alcohol consumed by an individual

True

The case of Frye v United States deals with the legal issue of general acceptance of scientific principles

True

The federal government has no single law enforcement or investigative agency that has unlimited jurisdiction throughout the country

True

The firearms unit may also analyze tool marks

True

The five units of a basic (a?) crime lab are the physical science unit, the biology unit, the firearms unit, the document examination unit, and the photography unit

True

The principle of "general acceptance" comes from Frye v United States.

True

The scientific method requires that scientific evidence be validated by what means?

-Formulating pertinent questions -Formulating hypotheticals -Performing experiments (all of the above)

The effectiveness of an expert's testimony is almost always dependent on:

-The ability of the expert to talk in clear, concise language -The educational background of the expert -The scientific validity of the tests used (all of the above)

Forensic science is the application of science to:

Both Civil and Criminal laws

The first responding officer at the crime scene must make attempts to detain and question whom?

Both suspects and witnesses

Officers should attempt to locate tool marks at the point of entry during the investigation of what type of crime?

Burglary

The purpose of the crime-scene search is to locate what?

Physical evidence

Which of the following acts is permissible for officers at the scene

(Can't Eat, Smoke, or Drink) None of the above

Police barricades and the strategic positioning of guards are used to prohibit access to the crime scene by whom?

All unauthorized personnel

The Dramatization of Forensic Science on television has led to a phenomenon known as what?

CSI effect

What judicial case set forth the most current guidelines for determining the admissibility of scientific examinations in the federal courts?

Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the spiral search pattern?

Evidence could be missed

What search pattern employs two people performing line searches that originate from adjacent corners?

Grid

Which of the following services doesn't normally lie within the expertise of the forensic scientist?

Polygraph Examination

Which of the following may give clues about the timing of an incident?

Position of the day's newspaper inside or outside the house

The types of evidence commonly found during a vehicle search include all except which of the following?

Questioned documents

The conditions at a crime scene can be compromised by all of the following actions except:

Taking photographs at the crime scene

Forensic odontology refers to the study of which of the following?

Teeth

The center of the crime scene, which is always included within the crime scene's boundary, is:

The area where the crime occured

Once the lead investigator determines that all pertinent evidence at the crime scene has been located, the investigators must perform what?

The final survey

Which unit is responsible for examining body fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons?

Toxicology Unit

In the case of Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court advocated that a "gatekeeper" determine the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence. Who is this gatekeeper?

Trial Judge

What is the initial survey of the crime scene that is carried out by the lead investigator called?

Walk-through

Which search pattern employs several people moving from the boundary straight toward the center of the scene (inward) or from the center straight to the boundary (outward)?

Wheel

Which search pattern would be best for a crime scene where many investigators are available to search a large area?

Zone