Chapter 2: The Crime Scene Notes

Multiple Choice

The primary difference between felonies and misdemeanors is: 

• severity of the crime
• amount of jail time the offender will serve
• they are major crimes only 
• they are minor crimes only 

Multiple Choice

A crime punishable by imprisonment in a county or city jail for one year or less, a fine of $1,000 or less or both is called a(n)

• Felony

• Arbitrary Crime

• Misdemeanor

• Bribery

Multiple Choice

Type of criminal law that results in stricter penalties of at least one year in prison

• case law

• statutes

• felonies

• misdemeanors

Multiple Choice

What is the fourth amendment?

• The right to bare arms
• Freedom of Speech
• Protects against illegal search and seizure
• States' Rights.

Multiple Choice

A home burglary has occurred. It appears the perpetrator entered after breaking a window. A metal safe had been opened by drilling through its tumblers. A suspect was seen running through the garden. Which of the following could be found on the suspect and would demonstrate Locard's exchange principle?

• cat hair on their shirt from their house

• coffee stain on their pants

• mud on their shoes from the victim's garden

• a wedding ring on their finger

Multiple Choice

What does Locard's Exchange Principle state?

• every crime will be solved

• all physical evidence provides information

• every contact leaves trace evidence

• crimes cannot be solved without physical evidence

Multiple Choice

A red car hits a white car and then leaves the scene of the accident. Which of the following best shows Locard's exchange principle?

• A little bit of red paint is found on the white car

• The driver in the white car has a broken wrist

• There is video evidence of the wreck

• An eyewitness saw that a child was driving the red car

Multiple Choice

What does this image best describe?

• A suspect and a victim

• 4th ammendment

• Locard's Exchange Principle

• Daubert and Frye

Multiple Choice

Locard’s exchange principle implies all of the following EXCEPT

• Cat hair can be transferred to your pants.

• Soil samples can be carried from the yard into your home

• Fibers can be transferred from one person to another.

• Blood spatter can be used to identify blood type.

Multiple Choice

What type of evidence includes firsthand observations?

• Direct evidence

• Circumstantial evidence

• Physical evidence

• Biological evidence

Multiple Choice

Dirt, pollen, hair, skin cells, and carpet fibers are all ______.

• DNA

• forensic science

• tool marks

• trace evidence

Multiple Choice

This evidence can be traced to a single source.

• Transient

• Individual

• Class

• Circumstantial

Multiple Choice

What type of evidence is shoe size?

• Class

• Individual

Multiple Choice

(indirect evidence) evidence used to imply a fact but not prove it directly is known as _______________ evidence.

• Direct

• Circumstantial

• Physical

• Biological

Multiple Choice

A fingerprint could be an example of

• common evidence

• biological evidence

• individual evidence

• class evidence

Multiple Choice

Hair is what type of evidence?

• Class

• indirect

• biological

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of individual physical evidence?

• commercial potting soil

• mass produced synthetic fiber

• sample of custom auto paint job

• new tire impressions

Multiple Choice

What is the first S of CSI?

• Separate the witnesses

• secure the scene

• see the scene

• search for evidence

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of securing a crime scene?

• To prevent contamination and loss of evidence

• To allow media access for reporting

• To ensure the safety of the public

• To provide a space for police officers to gather

Multiple Choice

Officer Mason, fresh out of the academy, arrives at a bustling crime scene. What should be his first move to ensure the area is secure?

• Collecting evidence

• Interviewing witnesses

• Establishing a perimeter

• Sketching the scene

Multiple Choice

What is the second S of CSI?

• Separate the witnesses

• secure the scene

• see the scene

• search for evidence

Multiple Choice

The reason it is important to separate the witnesses at the crime scene is to

• prevent contamination of the evidence

• prevent fighting among the witnesses

• prevent the witnesses from talking to each other

• protect them from the perpetrator

Multiple Choice

In this third step of CSI the primary and secondary crime scenes are identified, crime scene is classified, and photo locations are identified.

• Secure witnesses

• Secure and collect evidence

• Scanning the scene

• seeing the scene

Multiple Choice

During a forensic science class, Ava was asked about the significance of taking photographs at a crime scene. What is the main reason for this practice?

• To create a sketch

• To serve as a record before evidence is disturbed

• To entertain the media

• To confuse suspects

Multiple Choice

Arjun, a forensic photographer, is documenting a crime scene. Why is it important for him to take photographs of the crime scene?

• To provide entertainment

• To document the scene for future reference

• To confuse the investigation

• To sell to the media

Multiple Choice

_____ is a mathematical method of estimating positions of objects at a location such as a crime scene, given locations of stationary objects.

• triangulation

• physics

• datum point

• crime-scene reconstruction

Multiple Choice

Sketching a crime scene once it has been photographed is important because it

• preserves the spatial relationships and details that a photograph might not capture.

• replaces the need for any photographic records.

• is done for artistic reasons.

Multiple Choice

A crime scene sketch depicts the overall layout of a location and the relationship of evidentiary items to the surroundings. True or False?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What should the sketch include besides true North and a scale of distance?

• A legend explaining the symbols and features

• A decorative border

• A title indicating only the location

• The criminal

Multiple Choice

Triangulating evidence in sketching a scene is done to

• determine the precise location of evidence

• simplifies the drawing process

• hides evidence details

Multiple Choice

Where should you indicate true North on the sketch?

• At the top of the sketch

• At the bottom of the sketch

• On the left side

• On the right side

Multiple Choice

The crime scene sketch 

• accurately portrays the physical facts
• relates to the sequence of events at the scene
• establishes the precise location and relationship of objects and evidence at the scene
• all of the above

Multiple Choice

During a forensic science class, Aiden was asked to create a crime scene sketch. What should his sketch include?

• Only the evidence

• The layout, evidence locations, and measurements

• Only the layout

• Only measurements

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a crime-scene search pattern?

• grid

• triangulation

• linear

• spiral

• quadrant

Multiple Choice

Which search pattern is best if there is only 1 person?

• Grid

• Spiral

• Wheel

• Quadrant/Zone

Multiple Choice

Which search pattern is best for a large crime scene with well established boundaries?

• Grid

• Spiral

• Wheel/Ray

• It doesn't matter

Multiple Choice

Which search pattern is best for a large, dense area with a team of searchers available.

• Line/Strip

• Spiral

• Wheel/ray

• Quadrant/Zone

Multiple Choice

Which is a method of searching a crime scene?

• Spiral
• Box-Out
• Circular
• Zig-Zag

Multiple Choice

Name the search pattern

• Quadrant (Zone)

• Lane

• Grid

• Spiral

• Wheel

Multiple Choice

What is one way to prevent contamination of evidence when collecting?

• Leave evidence exposed to the air.
• Store evidence in an open container.
• Use bare hands to collect evidence.
• Use gloves when collecting evidence.

Multiple Choice

Small amounts of trace evidence should be packaged in

• plastic bags
• cardboard boxes
• large containers
• small envelopes or vials

Multiple Choice

All efforts in collecting evidence should focus on:

• Preserving evidence

• Avoiding contamination

• Keeping the chain of custody

• All are true

Multiple Choice

Why are evidence bags sealed?

• So tampering is immediately apparent

• Because of the chain of custody

• So that the evidence labels have as much information on them as possible

• All are true

Multiple Choice

What should be included on the packaging of any piece of evidence?

• description of item

• source/location of where item was recovered

• names of anyone who has had contact with item

• all of these

Multiple Choice

Carefully folded paper used for to collect small amounts of trace evidence

• Substrate control

• Druggist fold

• Buccal swab

• Chain of custody

Multiple Choice

A victim's fingernail scrapings would be correctly packaged in:

• a druggist fold

• sealed, airtight containers.

• a plastic Ziploc® bag.

• Paper evidence bag

Multiple Choice

The chain of custody begins:

• When an item of evidence is dropped by the suspect

• When an item of evidence is collected

• When an item of evidence is brought to the station

Multiple Choice

What process must investigators follow when collecting evidence and packing evidence at a crime scene?

• The scientific method

• chain of custody

• locard's principle

Multiple Choice

Was this bag sealed properly?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

How can law enforcement ensure the integrity of evidence during the investigation process?

• By following proper chain of custody procedures and using secure storage facilities

• By not documenting the transfer of evidence between personnel

• By allowing unauthorized personnel to handle the evidence

• By storing the evidence in an unsecured location

Multiple Choice

Explain the concept of 'chain of custody' and its significance in the legal system.

• It ensures the integrity and admissibility of evidence in the legal system.

• It refers to the custody of prisoners in the legal system

• It is a term used for the custody of financial assets in legal proceedings

• It is a type of custody for pets in legal cases

Multiple Choice

What are the potential consequences of mishandling evidence in a criminal investigation?

• Increased public confidence in the investigation

• Exoneration of the suspect

• Compromising the case, wrongful conviction, and loss of trust in the criminal justice system.

• Enhanced credibility of the evidence

Multiple Choice

What is the chain of custody in the context of evidence handling?

• Documentation of the sequence of custody and handling of evidence

• A type of jewelry worn by law enforcement officers

• The process of securing a bicycle with a lock

• A legal document granting custody of evidence to a family member

Multiple Choice

3. Which of the following is in the correct order when processing a crime scene?

• A. Searching for fingerprints and other evidence, photographs and sketches, surveying the scene, recording location of evidence and documenting, measuring and mapping

• B. Recording location of evidence and documenting, searching for finger prints and other evidence, measuring and mapping, photographs and sketches, surveying the scene

• C. Surveying the scene, photographs and sketches, measurements and mapping, searching for fingerprints and other evidence, recording location of evidence and documenting

• D. Surveying the scene, photographs and sketches, measurements and mapping, recording location of evidence and documenting, searching for fingerprints and other evidence