Test 1
Professional responsibilities of CSI
-Blocking off the scene from persons not authorized inside -Taking inventory of all evidence collected -Walking through the scene, documenting items
Recording a crime scene: Photos
-Crime-scene photos must be taken before any part of the scene is altered (with the exception of an injured person). -Photos should start with wide-angle views, then gradually zoom in closer to items of evidence. -In close-up photos of evidence, a ruler is included to show scale.
Recording a crime scene: Videos
-Crime-scene video should cover the entire scene and surrounding area. -Shots should include both full-picture and close-ups, much like the photos should. -Investigators should be subtle in their use of zooming and panning, and attempt to speak clearly over the video if they choose, or record without sound.
Recording a crime scene: Sketches
-Sketching provides details regarding the location of evidence and victims as they relate to the entire crime scene. -sketches can provide a picture of where everything is in relation to everything else, and includes dimensions to provide exact locations of items.
CODIS
-The Combined DNA Index System is maintained by the FBI and became operational in 1998. -CODIS holds DNA profiles in three folders: forensic, offender, and arrestee. -The forensic folder contains profiles from unsolved crime-scene evidence, the offender folder contains profiles of convicted individuals, and the arrestee folder contains profiles from those awaiting trial. -CODIS has assisted in more than 440,000 investigations.
IAFIS
-The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System was operational in 1999 and was integrated into the Next Generation Identification (NGI) system in 2014. -Managed by the FBI, this database contains criminal history information for nearly 75 million subjects - about 750 million fingerprint images! -IAFIS provides a list of potential matches for the fingerprint examiner to compare manually to possibly identify a match.
PDQ
-The International Forensic Automotive Paint Data Query holds information on the color and chemical composition of automotive paints. -This database is maintained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). -This database is especially useful in hit-and-run cases.
NIBIN
-The National Integrated Ballistics Information Network is maintained by the ATF and was created in 1999. -Within NIBIN is IBIS, the Integrated Ballistic Identification System. Like IAFIS, IBIS doesn't positively match bullets or casings, but provides a list of potential matches for the examiner to manually compare.
SICAR
-The Shoeprint Image Capture and Retrieval database assigns codes to individual pattern features on shoes. - "Solemate" is the name for the shoe sole database within SICAR.
Class Evidence
-blood type -a fiber -hair w/o root -one-layer paint chip -unfired bullet -broken glass shards w/ edges that don't fit together
comparison
-determining a fiber in a suspect's house as being consistent w/ a manufacturer -determining a piece of physical evidence's common origin -determining a pain chip on a victim's clothes are being consistent w/ vehicle type -determining a suspect's presence at a scene by the hairs found at the scene
identification
-determining the species of blood, semen, hair or wood -determining the nature of explosive residues -determining the chemical composition of an illicit-drug preparation -determining the physical or chemical identity
IDENT1
-include finger and palm print analysis -print search capabilities with access to international databases -verification of the identities of arrested persons -information sharing capabilities between state, local -federal agencies throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
Unprofessional responsibilities of CSI
-smoking, eating, drinking, littering -opening/closing faucets, doors, windows -moving the body prior to documentation
How should powders and fine particles be packaged?
A druggist's fold
What is the chain of custody?
A log documenting continuity of possession for evidence
Which of the following is an example of an expert witness?
A witness testifying to the presence of a suspect's fingerprints on the body of a deceased man
Each state in the United States has its own fingerprint database that is linked to the FBI's system. What is the name of this database?
AFIS
Who was known as the "father of criminal identification"?
Alphonse Bertillion
Which of the following is a responsibility of the expert witness at a trial?
An expert witness must establish to the satisfaction of a trial judge that he/she possesses a particular skill or has knowledge in a trade or profession that will aid the court in determining the truth of the matter at hand.
Raquel is a forensic scientist who has to definitively identify two recently deceased people. Both the bodies have an above average height and weight. She takes measurements of the different parts of the bodies and feeds the information into the lab's database. The database accurately matches the body parts to a person's profile, which helps in differentiating one person from another. Which system is Raquel using?
Anthropometry
If you received a hair collected from the hand of a murder victim, to which unit of the crime lab would you send that evidence for processing?
Biology Unit
What can serve as a means for recording the exact dynamics of a crime scene in the moment it was first discovered?
Body-Worn Cameras
Of the four major federal crime laboratories in the United States, the one maintained by the _____ assists with the enforcement of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Kirsten reported being raped after a night out at a bar. Sperm was discovered during her medical exam. It was also discovered that Kirsten tested positive for GHB (a date rape drug). All DNA evidence was submitted to the crime lab for examination. The DNA profile from the sperm will be entered into which database?
CODIS
Which crime lab unit would process the possible bloodstains on the floor in this scene?
CSI Unit
What type of analysis subjects a suspect specimen and a standard/reference specimen to the same tests and examinations for the ultimate purpose of determining whether they have a common origin?
Comparison
Leone Lattes
Created ABO test for dried bloodstains
Alphonse Bertillon
Created anthropometry, the first system of personal identification
In the ruling of _____, the United States Supreme Court established several criteria that the judge can use in determining the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence.
Daubert vs. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Edmond Locard
Described the exchange principle: every contact leaves a trace
Which of the following is a basic service provided by a full-service crime laboratory?
Document examination unit
Individual Evidence
Examples of this are: -the ridge characteristics of fingerprints -random striation markings on bullets or tool marks -irregular and random wear patterns in tire or footwear impressions -handwriting characteristics -irregular edges of broken objects that can be fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle -sequentially made plastic bags that can be matched by striation marks running across the bags
The crime laboratory operated by the _____ performs more than one million examinations each year, with worldwide recognition as a model for others.
FBI
Using _______ DNA database search techniques, a suspect could be linked to a crime through matching a DNA profile of a close relative with DNA evidence collected from a discarded pizza crust eaten by the suspect.
Familial
Francis Galton
Father of fingerprints
Calvin Goddard
Father of firearm examination and ballistics
Walter C. McCrone
Father of microscopy
Albert S. Osborn
Father of questioned documents
Mathieu Orfila
Father of toxicology
Which type of natural or synthetic evidence can be useful in establishing a connection between people, places, or objects?
Fibers
Which crime lab unit would process the spent casings located in this scene?
Firearms Unit
What are the three indexes of DNA profiles that exist in the CODIS database?
Forensic, offender, and arrestee
Who is the author of Finger Prints?
Francis Galton
Ted Jones's lawyer attempts to use the results of a polygraph test to prove that Ted is mentally ill and has no recollection of a murder he was convicted in. The judge is concerned whether the polygraph test is an adequate technique to use in this situation, while the lawyer guarantees the test is foolproof. In this situation, what should the lawyer do to meet the Frye standard?
Get an expert to testify that this is an accepted technique.
Windowpanes containing holes made by a bullet or other projectile are included in the ________ category of evidence.
Glass
What was Leone Lattes' contribution to forensic science?
He devised a simple procedure for determining the blood group of a dried bloodstain.
What was Calvin Goddard's contribution to forensic science?
He refined the techniques of comparing two fired bullets by using the comparison microscope.
What was Hans Gross' contribution to forensic science?
He wrote the first treatise on applying science to the field of criminal investigation.
Which of the following viruses can be contracted through contact with infected blood or tissue at a crime scene?
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV
What is the process of determining a substance's physical or chemical identity?
Identification
In the context of recording a crime scene, which of the following statements is true?
If additional personnel are contacted during an investigation, their names, titles, and time of arrival should be recorded.
Adam is a police officer conducting an investigation concerned with poisoning in Montreal, Canada. To get a forensics team to work on this investigation, he will have the bodies of the victims transported to the ________.
Institute of Legal Medicine and Police Science
In the ________, the FBI has physical evidence data profiles and corresponding criminal history information for nearly 75 million persons.
Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System
In the ruling of _____, the United States Supreme Court established that trial judges assume the responsibility of being a gatekeeper in determining the admissibility of testimony that is inclusive of scientific, technical, and other specialized knowledge.
Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. vs. Carmichael
Which is considered an optional service unit provided by a full-service crime laboratory?
Latent fingerprint unit
_______ states that a cross-transfer of materials occurs when two objects contact each other.
Locard's Exchange Principle
The _____ has the oldest forensic laboratory in the United States, established in 1923.
Los Angeles Police Department
In which case was it decided that taking a buccal swab of an arrestee's DNA was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment?
Maryland v. King
Who was known as the "father of forensic toxicology"?
Mathieu Orfila
A suspect was caught outside a residence that had just been burglarized. This residence had blue, red, and beige carpets. A red fiber was removed from the pants of the suspect and exemplar fibers from the house were also recovered. All fibers were submitted to the crime lab for examination. Will this evidence identify the suspect as the burglar?
No
Recording a crime scene: Notes
Notes should include all information that cannot be recorded by pictures, video, or sketches, such as: -The person who contacted the investigator -Time of contact -Preliminary information -Case number -Date and time of arrival -Who is present on the scene (logged as people come and go) **Notes can also be taken via audio recording, or by narrating while taking a video. This frees up the investigator's hands at the scene, and he/she can transcribe the notes later.
After a hit-and-run incident, Peter was taken to the hospital to be monitored. Police recovered a chip of paint from his jacket sleeve, and took it to the lab for testing. The information for the paint sample should be searched in what database?
PDQ
What were some suggestions made by the National Research Council on how to implement quality assurance measures to measure the competency of the examiners in laboratories?
Peer review, proficiency testing, analyst certification, and periodic external audits
if you received a white, powdered substance suspected to be cocaine, to which unit of the crime lab would you send that evidence for processing?
Physical Science Unit
Which of the following statements is true regarding limitations in dealing with physical evidence?
Physical evidence may exclude or exonerate a person from suspicion.
Class characteristics
Properties of evidence that can be associated only with a group and not a single source (blood type is a class characteristics)
In Mincey v. Arizona, what could investigators have done after the home was secured in order to avoid having the case overturned on appeal?
Requested a warrant to search and seize evidence
Quadrant or Zone search
Scene spanning a large area where the scene must be divided
Wheel/Ray Search
Scene that may not have known boundaries and focus is not on trace evidence
Grid search
Scenes w/ well-established boundaries that need a thorough search
You are a first responder to a sexual assault scene. What is the very first thing you should do?
Search the scene for the suspect
What was the world's first national database for forensics?
The National DNA Database
What is the purpose of the NamUs database?
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System is a national database for missing persons and unidentified decedent records.
Which of the following information should be recorded on the chain of custody?
The collector's initials, location of the evidence, and date of collection
What is one of the current weaknesses of forensic science?
The inability of the examiner to assign exact or even approximate probability values to the comparison of most class physical evidence
Whose responsibility is it to make an intelligent and complete examination of the crime-scene evidence?
The laboratory analyst
Whose responsibility is it to pay for a hepatitis B vaccination for a law enforcement officer who may have contact with bodily fluids while on the job?
The law enforcement agency
Which statement accurately describes the product rule?
The overall frequency of occurrence of an event, such as a match between two substances, can be obtained by multiplying together the frequencies of all independently occurring instances related to that event.
What does the term "rapid DNA" mean?
The process of quickly obtaining a DNA profile from a buccal swab
Which of the following is a main difference between the spiral search pattern and the grid search pattern?
The spiral search pattern employs one person, while the grid search pattern employs two people.
Which of the following statements is true regarding mobile crime laboratories?
They are vehicles that carry supplies to protect and process the crime scene.
Why would someone in a crime laboratory use latex gloves when handling evidence?
To avoid contamination of evidence
Why is it important to use the line/strip search pattern for areas with well-established boundaries?
To avoid missing evidence that could exist inside of the search area
Why would a first responder want to exclude the victim's family and friends from a crime scene?
To keep evidence from being tampered with
Which unit examines body fluids and organs to determine the presence or absence of drugs and poisons?
Toxicology
Hans Gross
Wrote the first treatise on applying the science to criminal investigation
Physical evidence of a known origin, such as blood or hair samples from a suspected perpetrator, is known as _____.
a reference sample
charred debris should be packaged in _______
an airtight metal container
Hairs
animal or human
Michigan v. Tyler dealt with _____ related evidence obtained on four occasions spanning 25 days beyond the original event.
arson
For _____, a technician would want to use tightly sealed jars or new paint cans to avoid the evaporation of residue.
charred debris
Buccal Swab
cheek cells collected to determine and individuals DNA profile
When type B blood is linked to a criminal suspect profile, all individuals having A, AB, and O blood should be ________.
excluded
Johanna used her expertise in _____ to help Detective Morrel retrieve valuable information from a suspect's cell phone, which led to the retrieval of a murder weapon from the suspect's home.
forensic computer science
Who is an expert who determines whether people are competent to make important legal decisions or stand trial?
forensic psychiatrist
documents
ink, obliterations, indented writings
Which of these items of evidence would provide the strongest link to the perp of the stabbing that occurred at this scene?
knife covered w/ blood (DNA or fingerprints recovered from the knife may be able to conclusively link the perp to the weapon and crime)
fingerprints
latent or visible
Rough Sketch
made at the crime scene
Finished sketch
made later, most often using computer-aided drafting.
fibers
natural or synthetic
Practitioners of forensic ________ help identify victims when the body is left in an unrecognizable state.
odontology
Anything containing biological material should be packaged in ___________
paper bag
The ruling in the Supreme Court Case of Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts set the standard for a forensic scientist to _____ in order to satisfy the requirements of the Sixth Amendment.
personally appear in court
An object that can establish that a crime has or has not been committed or can link a crime and its victim or its perpetrator is considered ________ evidence. A.
physical
standard/reference sample
physical evidence whose origin is known
drugs, jewelry and coins should be packaged in ______
plastic bags
The Fourth Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures with warrants being issued when there is _____.
probable cause
The first responder of the scene of a crime is responsible for _________
protecting and preserving the scene
Jim Calloway is on trial for the murder of five people. During the trial, his lawyer states that Mr. Calloway is incompetent to stand trial. Dr. Palmer examines and interviews the defendant and deems him unfit to stand trial. This decision is reached with the help of forensic ________.
psychiatry
In a _____ search pattern, an area is divided into smaller areas where teams of investigators are assigned to search for evidence.
quadrant/zone
Strip or line Search
scenes w/ well-established boundaries, such as a room
which statement about personal protective equipment (PPE) is correct?
sharp objects at crime scenes should be placed in a resistant container
Which of these items would be expected NOT to have individual characteristics?
shotgun barrels (shotgun barrels are not rifled, so no minutiae are imparted to the casings once the ammunition has been fired)
Assigning exact or even approximate probability values when comparing most class physical evidence is difficult for some disciplines, but important—because without it, __________ could misinterpret the strength of the evidence.
the jury
Impressions
tire mark, shoe prints
Spiral Search
to investigate a scene from the outside-in or the inside-out to locate footprints
substrate control
uncontaminated material near where physical evidence was deposited
Vegetative matter
wood, sawdust