Hess_CI_12e_PPT_CH05_

Open Ended

What are some common errors that can occur when collecting evidence at a crime scene, and how might these impact the investigation?

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to understand the process of handling physical evidence in criminal investigations?

• To ensure evidence is admissible in court

• To avoid contamination of evidence

• To speed up the investigation process

• To reduce paperwork

Multiple Choice

Which of the following types of evidence requires special collection and processing considerations according to LO6?

• Fingerprints

• Shoe and tire prints

• DNA

• Blood

Multiple Choice

What is the first step in processing physical evidence?

• Collect, record, and identify it

• Discover or recognize evidence

• Package, convey, and store it

• Exhibit it in court

Open Ended

Explain the steps involved in processing physical evidence from its discovery to final disposition.

Fill in the Blanks

When discovering or recognizing evidence, investigators should look for objects that are

to the scene.

Multiple Select

Which actions are part of marking, identifying, and collecting evidence?

• Place evidence marker

• Dispose of evidence

• Record on an evidence log

• Photograph/sketch

Open Ended

Identify and discuss common errors that can occur during the collection of evidence.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a common error when collecting evidence?

• Not collecting enough of the sample

• Packaging each item separately

• Categorizing and describing each item

• Using the fastest delivery method

Open Ended

Explain why it is important not to mix or cross-contaminate evidence during packaging and transportation.

Multiple Select

Which types of evidence packaging are shown in the image? Select all that apply.

• DNA or biological

• Latent prints

• Controlled substances or narcotics

• Ballistics, tool marks, or castings

Fill in the Blanks

Before, during, and after its examination, evidence must be securely

, properly stored, and consistently managed.

Multiple Choice

According to the Daubert standard, expert testimony must be:

• Reliable and relevant

• Fast and efficient

• Based on opinion

• Presented by law enforcement

Open Ended

Describe the criteria required to ensure admissibility of evidence in court.

Multiple Choice

What are some ways evidence that is no longer needed may be handled according to criminal investigation procedures?

• Returned, sold, or retained for training purposes

• Destroyed immediately

• Donated to charity

• Stored indefinitely regardless of case status

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a reason why evidence must be legally disposed of in criminal investigations?

• To prevent major storage problems

• To comply with federal tax laws

• To avoid media attention

• To increase conviction rates

Open Ended

List the types of physical evidence most commonly found in criminal investigations.

Fill in the Blanks

Biometrics in physical evidence analysis can include fingerprints, hand geometry, facial features, and even blood vessels in the

of the eye.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are considered class characteristics in the analysis of physical evidence?

• Features that place an item into a specific category

• Distinguishes one item from another

• Fingerprints and hand geometry

• Blood vessels in the iris of the eye

Open Ended

Compare and contrast the determinations that can and cannot be made from fingerprint, DNA, blood, and hair evidence.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT indicated by fingerprint analysis?

• A person's identity

• A person's age

• A person's involvement in a mass disaster

• A person's unconscious state

Open Ended

Compare the effectiveness of DNA evidence and fingerprint analysis in identifying suspects. What are the advantages and limitations of each method?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are characteristics of nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)?

• nDNA is found in blood and saliva; mtDNA is found in hair fragments and bones

• nDNA is less discriminating than mtDNA

• mtDNA can exclude individuals from being the source of DNA

• nDNA is only found in teeth

Fill in the Blanks

DNA databases such as

are helpful in solving violent crime.

Open Ended

What are some of the privacy concerns raised by ancestry databases or testing large segments of a population against a known sample?

Multiple Choice

Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is most useful for which of the following purposes?

• Identifying the age of a suspect

• Establishing spatial and sequential events after a bloodshed

• Determining the blood type only

• Diagnosing diseases

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT one of the chapter objectives listed for Chapter 5?

• Explain the steps in processing physical evidence.

• Identify common errors in collecting evidence.

• Understand criteria for admissibility of evidence.

• Describe the history of forensic science.

Open Ended

Reflecting on the chapter objectives, what aspect of processing physical evidence do you find most challenging or intriguing, and why?