Forensics: Chapter 2: The Crime Scene

A victim's fingernail scrapings would be correctly packaged in: a)a druggist fold. b)sealed, airtight containers. c)a plastic Ziploc bag. d)both B and C e)none of the above

A) A druggist fold

If a cause of death cannot be found through simple observation of the victim, a(n) __________________ is typically carried out. a)drug screening b)autopsy c)facial recondition d)crime scene investigation e)anthropological profile

B) Autopsy

If the crime scene includes a dead body, the photographer should: a)determine the time of death. b)depict injuries and weapons at the scene. c)attempt to identify the victim. d)attempt to locate the victim's next of kin. e)document all forensic personnel at crime scene.

B) Depict injuries and weapons at scene.

Charred debris from an arson scene should be: a)thrown away with the other fire debris. b)packaged in air tight glass jar. c)placed in Ziploc bags. d)aired out before packing in plastic wrap. e)placed together with similar items in a paper bag.

B) Packaged in air tight glass jar.

All of the following items may be placed in an airtight container except: a)explosive residue b)hairs and fibers c)charred debris recovered from a fire e)glass

C) Bloodstained clothing

Evidence of tampering with the position of a body after death can be obtained by evaluating the: a)rigor mortis. b)algor mortis. c)livor mortis. d)both B and C e)none of the above

C) Livor mortis

Typically, about an hour after death, the deceased body loses heat at a rate of approzimately ___________________ until the body reaches the environmental temperature. a)12 degrees fahrenheit per hour b)1-1 1/2 degrees fahrenheit per minute c)0.1-0.2 degrees celsius per hour d)1-1 1/2 degrees celsius per hour e)1-1 1/2 degrees fahrenheit per hour

D) 1-1 1/2 degrees per hour

A corpse was discovered in an apartment last November. It was that of a 50-year-old male who died of a heart attack. At the time of discovery, the body temperature was determined to be 89 degrees fahrenheit. What is the most probable post mortem interval? a)2 hours b)12 hours c)1 hour d)4 hours e)7 hours

E) 7 hours

The rate of cooling of a dead body can be influenced by all BUT the: a)exposure to direct sunlight. b)weather conditions. c)location. d)size of body. e)gender of victim.

E) Gender of victim

A rough sketch need NOT include a: a)location of walls, doors and windows in the building on scene. b)sketch of the suspect(s). c)compass heading designating north. d)date, location, and time of the incident. e)location of all recovered physical evidence.

E) Location of all recovered physical evidence.

The collection of standard reference samples at the scene is important because they: a)prevent the laboratory from making mistakes. b)are obtained only from suspects in cases of violent assault. c)prove the continuity of possession. d)serve as a source of extra test material in the crime lab. e)permit comparisons to be made with the evidence.

E) Permit comparisons to be made with the evidence.

The first officer arriving at the crime scene, after providing or obtaining medical assistance for the injured and effecting an arrest of suspects (if possible), should immediately: a)photograph the scene. b)search for evidence. c)make a rough sketch of the scene. d)take notes. e)secure the scene.

E) Secures the scene

Insect evidence should be collected: a)at the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigator. b)upon the finding of the decedent by the first responding officer. c)only from the body. d)at the crime laboratory by forensic analysts. e)during the autopsy by the medical examiner.

A) At the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigation.

What part of a decedent's body resists rapid decomposition and is used by forensic anthropologists to provide information about the decedent? a)bones b)cartilage c)soft tissue d)hair fragments e)teeth

A) Bones

Crime scene sketches serve a unique purpose in permanently documenting the location of evidence: a)collected and removed from the crime scene. b)containing drug evidence. c)processed at the crime scene. d)not documented in photographs. e)in plain view.

A) Collected and removed from the crime scene.

The most basic methods of crime scene recording include all of the following EXCEPT: a)infrared analysis. b)narrated videotape. c)sketches. d)photographs. e)note taking.

A) Infrared analysis.

CAD programs enhance the ability to: a)produce a finished crime scene sketch. b)edit videotape. c)develop photographs. d)create chain-of-custody documents. e)take complete documents.

A) Produce a finished crime scene sketch.

The successful outcome of a criminal investigation is almost always directly related to: a)the manner in which the evidence is collected and preserved. b)the number of people employed in the crime lab. c)the volume of the physical evidence collected. d)the complexity of the crime scene. e)whether the crime is considered high profile.

A) The manner in which the evidence is collected and preserved.

Which of the following items is likely to contain DNA evidence? a)a glass fragment b)a bedsheet c)a self-adhesive mailing stamp d)a blue rug fiver e)all of the above

B) A bedsheet

The stage of fusion of various bones within a skeleton can be used to estimate the _____________ of the decedent. a)occupation b)age c)race d)gender e)height

B) Age

Which statement about not taking is NOT true? a)notes should include location of physical evidence recovered. b)note taking is done after all crime scene processing has been completed. c)the date of the investigation should be recorded. d)disposition of items after collection must be included. e)the individual who packaged and marked items of evidence should be recorded.

B) Note taking is done after all crime scene processing has been completed.

Rigor mortis refers to the: a)odor of death. b)stiffness of death. c)temperature of death. d)time of death. e)color of death.

B) Stiffness of death

Which crime scene search pattern would absolutely require more than one investigator? a)line b)zone c)spiral d)grid e)none of the above

B) Zone

Which of the following is a correct physical evidence collection procedure? a)all items collected from the same grid area should be packaged together. b)the victim's clothing should be obtained at the crime scene and vacuumed to obtain trace evidence. c)bloodstained garments should be packaged separately in paper bags. d)every item collected should be secured individually in a plastic bag to prevent contamination. e)items recovered from the scene of a murder should be sent along with the body to the medical examiner.

C) Bloodstained garments should be packaged separately in paper bags.

As the post mortem interval increases, the concentration of potassium in the vitreous humor of the eye: a)remains the same. b)decreases. c)increases.

C) Increases

A properly maintained chain of custody is NOT the responsibility of the: a)evidence clerk. b)forensic technician. c)trial judge. d)trace evidence examiner. e)crime scene processor.

C) Trial judge.

According to forensic entomologists, which "witness" is the first to arrive at the crime scene? a)mite b)spider c)carrion beetle d)blow fly e)centipede

D) Blow fly

Which is NOT a manner of death? a)accident b)suicide c)natural d)drowning e)homicide

D) Drowning

Videotapes of the crime scene: a)are required in all jurisdictions. b)are generally of poor quality and little value. c)can be used in place of notes and photographs. d)must be complemented by a hard copy of notes and separate still photographs. e)are not admissible in court due to the poor image quality.

D) Must be complemented by a hard copy of notes and separate still photographs.

Success in the recognition and collection of physical evidence is determined primarily by the: a)type of evidence involved. b)size of budget of the crime lab. d)skill of personnel proceeding the crime scene. e)notoriety of the case.

D) Skill of personnel processing the crime scene.

The systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information is a process known as: a)criminal profiling. b)forensic science. c)crime scene investigation. d)the scientific method. e)crime scene reconstruction.

D) The scientific method.

To determine the gender of skeletal remains, a forensic anthropologist can examine all of the following area of the skeleton except: a)cranium b)pelvis c)sacrum d)vertebrae e)femur

D) Vertebrae

The crime scene notes must accurately record: a)the tasks assigned each investigator. b)personnel arrivals and departures from the crime scene. c)descriptions of evidence present at the crime scene. d)arrival and departure times of media personnel and on-lookers. e)A, B, and C.

E) A, B, and C

Estimations of the postmortem interval (PMI) using entomological evidence must take into account a)the species of insect present. b)geographical location of the decedent's body. c)the location's climate over time. d)weather conditions. e)all of the above.

E) All of the above

Investigators should collect possible carriers of trace evidence which may include: a)vacuum sweepings. b)clothing. c)vehicles. d)fingernail scrapings. e)all of the above.

E) All of the above

Physical evidence at a hit-and-run scene could include: a)glass fragments. b)fabric impressions. c)paint chips. d)fiber and tissue. e)all of the above

E) All of the above

Which type of evidence must be packaged separately from other evidence? a)biological stain evidence. b)DNA-containing evidence. c)arson evidence. d)A and B e)all of the above

E) All of the above

A forensic anthropologist may help to create a(n) ___________________ to help with the identification of the victim. a)fingerprint chart b)dental profile c)DNA profile d)autopsy chart e)facial reconstruction

E) Facial reconstruction