Intro to Crime Scene

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes an affidavit?

• A written statement made under oath declaring information is true to the best of one's knowledge.

• A verbal agreement between two parties.

• A document used to transfer property ownership.

• A type of legal punishment.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about 'curtilage' are correct?

• It includes the yard, driveway, or fenced-in space around a home.

• It is part of the property and receives the same legal protection as the house.

• It refers to public parks near a home.

• It is considered the 'home's personal space.'

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a dwelling?

• A place where people live, such as a house or apartment

• A location where a crime has occurred

• A place where evidence is stored

• A location where police officers work

Open Ended

Explain the difference between a primary crime scene and a secondary crime scene.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are purposes of evidence in a crime scene investigation?

• Establish key elements of a crime

• Link a suspect with a crime scene or a victim

• Prove the guilt of every suspect

• Give detectives leads to work with in the case

Open Ended

How can evidence help in exonerating the innocent during a crime scene investigation?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the initial responding officer at a crime scene?

• Observe persons or vehicles leaving the area

• Record observations

• Collect and analyze evidence in the lab

• Locate potential witnesses

Open Ended

Why is it important to control the movement of persons at a crime scene and limit the number of people who enter?

Multiple Choice

What actions should the initial responding officer take to prevent individuals from altering or destroying physical evidence at the scene?

• Allow free movement of all individuals

• Restrict movement, location, and activity while ensuring safety

• Remove all individuals immediately without assessment

• Focus only on suspects and ignore others

Multiple Select

Which of the following individuals should be secured and separated at a crime scene?

• Suspects

• Witnesses

• Bystanders

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Why is establishing boundaries important when securing a crime scene?

• To control the integrity of evidentiary material

• To keep the public away from the scene

• To make the scene look official

• To allow media access

Multiple Choice

What are the key steps an investigator should take upon arrival at a crime scene?

• Make contact with the initial responding officer and evaluate search and seizure issues

• Immediately start collecting evidence

• Interview all witnesses before securing the scene

• Release information to the media

Open Ended

Explain how scene assessment contributes to the development of investigative strategies.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are important actions during scene assessment?

• Evaluate initial scene boundaries

• Ensure continued scene integrity

• Canvass and document the surrounding area

• Release evidence to the public

Open Ended

Describe the purpose and process of an initial walkthrough at a crime scene.

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes tool mark evidence in forensic investigations?

• Tool marks always look the same, no matter how long the tool has been used.

• Tool marks are useful only for identifying the brand of a tool, not the exact one.

• Tool marks have defining characteristics that change over time and can show both class and individual traits.

• Tool marks are unrelated to how a crime was performed or how entry was made.

Multiple Choice

What makes tool marks unique and valuable for forensic investigations?

• They are made from common factory designs that all tools share.

• They contain accidental lines or scratches (called striations) formed during manufacturing and use, making each tool mark one of a kind.

• They can only show the general category of tool, such as “hammer” or “screwdriver.”

• They disappear quickly and cannot be used for comparison.

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes how forensic examiners analyze and classify tool marks?

• Tool marks from the same manufacturer always appear identical and cannot be distinguished.

• Molded impressions are created when a tool slides across a surface, leaving scratch marks called striations.

• Slipped impressions happen when a tool is pressed directly into a surface, creating a 3D mold.

• Tool marks are analyzed for their type of impression (such as slipped or molded), and under a microscope, even tools from the same manufacturer can show unique differences.