Nelson Final CJE1640
Why it is necessary for the crime scene technician to be prepared to return to an earlier stage of the processing model?
"Going back" becomes necessary when the technician discovers previously unobserved evidence.
Any good crime scene examination requires five key ingredients, what are they?
1. Knowledge2. Skills and tools3. A methodical approach4. Flexibility5. A coordinated effort
A "blue light" is an effective crime scene tool that provides the following capabilities:
A broad pass band filter that will cause many crime scene items to fluorese.
Forensic analysis of a pistol casing includes evaluating:
All of the above
An alternate light source (ALS) can be used in the following ways:
All of the above.
The six basic activities the crime scene technician engages in at the scene are:
Assessing, Observing, Documenting, Searching, Collecting, and Analyzing
At any critical incident the initial responding officer seeks to:
Bring the site under control and coordinate resources
Angle of impact determinations for bullet holes in solid substrates are effective when
Bullet defects do not always present clean, precise margins.
Which type of fire pattern can result from direct flame involvement?
Char patterns
The interpretive value of evidence is a function of what?
Chisum and Rynearson commented on this interpretive value of evidence when they noted that "the full meaning of evidence is a function of time and the item's surroundings."
The police utilize five basic objectives in seeking their goals of preventing crime and disorder and protecting the life and liberty of their citizens. Which two of the five objectives are more closely related to the crime scene investigation?
Crime repression and protection of personal liberty.
The five objectives of the initial responder at any crime scene include:
Document initial information, provide for emergency care, secure and control the scene, not become a casualty and release the scene to appropriate authorities
What is characteristic of sharp force injuries:
Edge free of abrasion, free of tissue bridging and clean cut
After obtaining crime scene photographs of the body, the crime scene investigator doesn't need to take additional photographs of the corpse at the morgue before cleaning.
False
Blood will brightly fluoresce when exposed to Ultra Violet light.
False
Controlling the scene and everyone in it requires cordoning off a section of the immediate scene and having witnesses wait there.
False
Cross contamination of serological evidence is never an issue when handling a single item of stained clothing.
False
Death in a hanging results from the airway being occluded.
False
Due to the accuracy in which a Total Station system measures angles it is imperative to set the instrument exactly to the magnetic north prior to taking any readings.
False
Field tests for blood are more than adequate to establish that a stain is human blood.
False
Good crime scene photographs eliminate the need for detailed notes in the overall observation phase of crime scene processing.
False
Human skin is not an effective surface for producing latent fingerprints; therefore there is little reason to attempt to recover them.
False
It is best to examine a fire scene from the most heavily damaged area to the least damaged area.
False
Lacking a strobe light for the video camera, the use of a flashlight will suffice and allow the crime scene investigator to functionally video dark areas in the scene.
False
Lifesaving is attended to after ensuring the scene is secure and evidence is preserved.
False
Most close-up photographs of bloodstain patterns are taken from a distance of several feet in order for the analyst to see all of the details in the pattern.
False
Non-intrusive techniques for locating buried bodies rarely work.
False
Notes by the crime scene technician become unnecessary when good photographs and sketches are completed as a part of the scene processing.
False
Once the body is recovered from the grave there is rarely any physical evidence remaining in the grave itself.
False
Rectangular coordinates are more effective at fixing evidence than triangulation techniques.
False
Rigor Mortis remains constant in the body.
False
Running commentary on the audio track of the video photography by the crime scene investigators is a standard and functional crime scene practice.
False
The Condition of the Scene section of a crime scene report is intended to describe the building, any doors and openings and the static conditions found at the scene.
False
The Electro Static Lifting Device (ESLD) can be used on any surface including wet ones.
False
The Environmental Conditions section of the crime scene report is used merely to discuss the exterior conditions (e.g. raining, snowing, sunshine).
False
The basic purpose behind creating a crime scene sketch is to create a drawing of the scene that is accurate in every detail.
False
The crime scene report should be synopsized and report only that information that ultimately supports the conclusions of the technician.
False
The fingerprint search is directed at the "best surfaces" found in the scene (e.g. mirrors, television screens).
False
The most effective crime scene light is the halogen work light, as it allows colors to be viewed without distortion.
False
The order or sequence in which processing is completed has no impact on the resulting investigation.
False
There is only one right way to process the crime scene.
False
Triangulation on a baseline is primarily used as an interior scene mapping method.
False
Once the crime scene technician photographs the body as it lays:
False: it is immediately placed into a body bag for transport from the scene.
When recovering a 2-dimensional impression from a porous surface, which of the following methods can be used:
Gelatin Lifter
The best description of the hazards associated with working a landfill site includes which of the following?
Heat, methane, drop down debris, Sharp objects and bio hazard waste
The major problems associated to crime scene photography include:
Identification problems, orientation problems, confusion problems and incomplete documentation.
How might a failure to verify the address of a crime scene negatively impact the investigation?
Imagine you get call, you show up at the scene and you find the incident. Most calls only give you a general vicinity. Its important to ID the address for when the warrant comes in. Maybe the call said the address across the street from the actual incident. Incorrect warrant that leads to evidence puts the evidence in jeopardy.
What are the three areas of study that make up ballistics?
Internal Ballistics, External Ballistics, and Terminal Ballistics.
What is the standard that the investigator uses when pursuing a solution to crime and why is this standard necessary?
Investigate to the point of beyond a reasonable doubt. Exceeding probable cause
Why is it important to document investigative efforts that fail to produce evidence?
It is important to note negative results in a report to avoid a chance that a lawyer will claim improper procedure of the police or "loss of crucial evidence" to use towards his favor when in fact the negative result was just not reported.
Rifling refers to what two manufactured components of a barrel?
Lands [projections] and grooves [depressions]
During initial observations, the crime scene technician accomplishes an initial scan of the scene, this includes:
Looking for victims, central theme items, secondary scenes, avenues of entry and exit and fragile evidence
The primary crime scene documentation consists of:
Notes, Reports, Sketches, and photographs
What are the three basic photographs associated with crime scene photography?
Overall photographsEvidence-establishing photographs (mid-range)Evidence quality photographs (close-up)
Why is physical evidence more objective than testimonial evidence such as eye-witness accounts?
Physical evidence is real, tangible, and cannot be denied. Physical evidence never lies. Whereas testimonial evidence is subjective and flawed by human perception.
The initial responding officer considers which of the following when defining where to place the initial perimeter:
Primary focal points, avenues of entry and exit, and secondary scenes
The concept of "going back" in the processing methodology means:
Returning to an earlier step, in order to bring a newly discovered item of evidence to the same level of processing as other items
Stiffening of the muscles in the corpse is called:
Rigor Mortis
Of the available methods for DNA analysis, which of the following is the best for individualization in forensic analysis?
STR
In order to preserve fragile evidence, officers generally have the authority to prevent EMS from entering a scene.
Scenes where putrefaction of the victim or where the head is in one corner away from the body. Clear Cut death circumstances. Stop them and have one person go in to confirm the death.
Describe and explain the forensic linkage triangle.
Suspect(s), Victim(s) and Scene(s)
All material removed from the grave as fill, should be screened to ensure that small objects are not missed.
TRUE
What is the basic goal of crime scene processing?
The end goal of crime scene processing is the collection of the evidence and scene context in as pristine a condition as possible.
What is the purpose of a crime scene entry log and when it is put in place?
To document who entered the crime scene and why. Identify names, agencies, reason for being at the scene and time in and out. Can be done as early as possible
What is the most significant class characteristic in shoe mark examinations and why?
Tread pattern: because, with even a partial tread pattern, it may be possible to identify the shoe's brand or model.
A primary purpose of a fire investigation is to establish if the fire was an arson.
True
Although the rough sketch created at the crime scene it not intended to be a work of art, it is expected to reflect the layout and orientation of the scene.
True
An effective method of creating overall photographs is to shoot across the scene from the four corners of the scene limits.
True
An example of an unpredictable effect is the movement of a weapon in the crime scene by a first responder, which remains unreported and unrecognized by the crime scene team.
True
Any observation made at the crime scene and recorded in notes could be of significance at a later date.
True
Assessing the scene in the first step taken in the processing methodology and a continuous step.
True
Class characteristics are most effective for eliminating an item from inclusion in a group, reducing the necessity of conducting further time or resource consuming examinations.
True
Crime scene notes are generally more detailed than the resulting crime scene report.
True
Crime scene notes must be retained even after creating the crime scene report.
True
Documenting the scene (which includes photographing, mapping and sketching) is an intrusive act in and of itself, requiring a specific order of activity.
True
During the approach to the scene the initial responding officer must consider a variety of threats including: man-made hazards, natural hazards and possible on-scene suspects
True
Fire signs are important in the fire scene investigation as they provide the best indication of how the fire moved through the scene. This information helps identify the origin of the fire.
True
For purposes of choosing a fingerprint method, paper products and cardboard are considered to be porous surfaces.
True
Identification of a firearm to a bullet is accomplished by evaluating the lands and grooves found in the bullet.
True
It is important to the investigation that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel be interviewed as soon as possible to determine who was there and what action they took in the scene.
True
Lacking a managed waste site and some specific intelligence about when a body was dumped, looking for a body in a landfill is unlikely to be successful.
True
Latent or occult blood is blood that is either barely visible or invisible in the crime scene.
True
Multi-level isolation involves using a minimum of two perimeters to isolate the crime scene.
True
One of the first actions and considerations of the crime scene investigator is to recheck the status of assumed corpses on-scene.
True
Prior to entering a structure damaged by fire or explosion, it is appropriate to seek counsel from the fire department or a structural engineer.
True
Superglue fuming as a fingerprinting process is an effective on-scene technique primarily because it stabilizes the latent prints on a variety of surfaces.
True
The 4R rule for glass fragment examination states that ridge lines are at right angles to the rear of radial fractures.
True
The activity of searching the scene is accomplished in several stages. Initial searches are visual, while later searches are physical
True
The baseline mapping method is effective when presented with an exterior scene with few landmarks.
True
The crime scene investigator can never take too many photographs.
True
The deformation of a bullet as it strikes a target at an acute angle may allow the firearms analyst to determine the angle of deflection.
True
The function of a photo log is to keep a record of what photographs were taken and why.
True
The hazards present in the crime scene are not limited to bio-hazards from blood and body fluids.
True
The inner most perimeter which defines the true crime scene is the only perimeter that must have an entry control log.
True
The interpretive value of evidence is a function of time and the item's surroundings.
True
The line search is very effective for searching over open and rough terrain.
True
The range determinations offered by the Medical Examiner are all based on the absence or presence of soot, stippling and burning in or around the wound.
True
The statement "The call you got isn't the call you get" simply means that the initial information provided to the police is often incorrect.
True
The underlying method of both Polar Coordinates and Total Station systems is based on land surveying techniques.
True
There is an empirical relationship between the shape of a bloodstain and the angle at which it struck a surface.
True
Typical impression evidence includes shoe and tire marks, but also includes evidence such as tool marks
True
When deciding upon how large of a search swathe to assign in patterned searches, the crime scene supervisor must consider the nature of the ground being searched, the lighting conditions, the on-scene environmental conditions and the size of the item being searched for.
True
What is one way the crime scene technician might verify that a defect is associated to a bullet impact?
Visual EvaluationChemical EvaluationFinding an actual bullet/fragments
Besides a standard "birds eye" view, the crime scene sketch can also be drawn as:
a cross projection sketch, in which the walls are laid down or an elevation sketch, in which one or more vertical surfaces are drawn
The crime scene report should not include which of the following:
a discussion of only central theme items and a discussion on why a suspect committed the crime
A stove burner that is on in a crime scene is an example of:
a functional detail
Class characteristics of evidence are classified as:
a group and never with a single source.
Why must the crime scene technician retain crime scene notes even after the crime scene report is completed
because they are more detailed than the reports and can be referred to if a part of the report is in question or if there is something missing.
Which term applies to the projectile fired from a handgun?
bullet
Patterned searches allow the crime scene technician to methodically search the scene, they include the following:
circle, strip or line, grid, point to point and zone
Why is effective documentation of bullet defects so important?
due to variations of reporting defects, trajectories, and associated evidence.
A major factor affecting algor mortis is:
environmental conditions.
Where each and every bullet defect is located is not of significant interest and bullet holes do not have to be located in the sketch and crime scene mapping data.
false
The essential elements of the crime scene sketch include:
heading, legend, diagram area, title block, scale and direction notations
When excavating a grave which of the following are included in the basic technique?
keeping the dig in phase, so as to not disturb lower layers of the grave, using small brushes to clear objects of dirt, and mapping objects to a grid and identifying elevation data in the grave
Measuring polar coordinates that do not involve elevation data involves the following information:
measuring the horizontal angle and the horizontal distance
The factors that are taken into consideration before making a decision on whether to use an area or functional team approach include:
number of scenes, order of activity for specialty exams, available resources, and the physical size of the scene
Individual characteristics of evidence are defined as:
properties of physical evidence that can be attributed to a common source with a high degree of certainty. Examples of individual evidence include anything that contains nuclear DNA, toolmarks, and fingerprints.
Contusions are:
soft tissue injury produced by blunt force
The following fingerprinting techniques are considered to be normal "on-scene" techniques:
superglue fuming and small particle reagent
Directionality is evaluated using which of the following:
the long axis of the stain and the secondary splatter and scallops, and tails emanating from the stain
Livor Mortis refers to:
the pooling of the blood in tissues after death resulting in a reddish color in the skin
The best circumstances for the crime scene technician when evaluating bullet trajectories is when:
there are multiple corresponding defects in solid surfaces and an associated penetrating or perforating wound
What is the purpose of an overall photograph?
they depict the overall condition and orientation of the scene.
What is characteristic of stab and incised wounds?
wound cause by penetration- depth greater than length on surface
