Deck 4: Physical Evidence Collection

Question 1

When collecting evidence, the general rule is that more is better than less.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The identifying information on the container of collected evidence is important. Which of the following most accurately explains why the name of the collector and each person having custody should be recorded?

A) The attorney needs a list of people to subpoena for court.
B) The list is used by supervisors to record overtime pay.
C) The list provides a chain of custody identifying who is responsible for the item, and the time they had possession, after it is collected.
D) The list of names is used to eliminate officers as potential suspects in case the item is contaminated with their DNA.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

You are dispatched to a crime scene involving a homicide. There is a significant amount of blood throughout the scene and swabs of the blood are collected. Which of the following would be considered a control sample:

A) Hair from the crime scene.
B) Blood on the clothes of the victim.
C) A swab of the front door-knob.
D) Buccal swab from the suspect.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

You arrive at the scene of a homicide and see a blood soaked shirt on the floor. Once it is properly documented, which of the following containers should you place it in for transportation to the crime lab?

A) A sealed paint can.
B) A paper bag.
C) A sealed plastic bag.
D) The trunk of the police car.

Question 5

All of the following are questions to consider for evaluating the context of physical evidence in order to gain a better understanding of what happened, except:

A) What is it and what function did it serve?
B) What relationship does it have to any other items of evidence or to the scene itself?
C) What does it tell about timing and sequencing aspects?
D) Does it correspond to the Assistant Prosecutor's theory?

Question 6

The Fourth Amendment provides citizens protection from unlawful search and seizure. A search warrant will be commonly obtained prior to a search. If you arrive at a crime scene before a search warrant is approved, and observe blood on the driveway next to the house while it's raining, what do you do?

A) Ignore collecting the blood sample because there is no search warrant.
B) State in your notes that the warrant was approved and collect the sample.
C) Photograph the scene, but don't collect the sample.
D) Photograph the blood and collect the sample and then wait for the warrant before any further work is done.

Question 7

There are Exclusionary Rule Exceptions to the Fourth Amendment that permit law enforcement to seize items without a search warrant.

Question 8

Which of the following IS NOT one of the Exclusionary Rule Exemptions of the Fourth Amendment?

A) Good Faith
B) Inevitable Discovery
C) Purged Taint
D) Independent Consultant

Question 9

The term "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" refers to:

A) An investigator trained by a poorly skilled supervisor
B) All subsequent evidence collected after violation of Fourth Amendment.
C) Evidence recovered by a poorly trained CSI
D) None of the above

Question 10

The rule that provides for the excluding evidence obtained in violation of Miranda rights is known as the exclusionary rule.

Question 11

At the crime scene your supervisor assigns you the task of establishing the chain of custody for the collection of evidence, which of the following must be recorded:

A) Name of the individual collecting the evidence
B) Date and time of evidence transfer
C) Description of the item
D) All of the above

Question 12

You are tasked with processing a vehicle for potential evidence. You are about to search for potential fingerprints on the vehicle. You observe trace hairs and fibers on the driver's seat. What do you do next?

A) Process the vehicle for fingerprints and then collect the hairs/fibers
B) Collect the hairs/fibers and then go back to searching for fingerprints
C) Process all other areas for fingerprints, then collect the hairs/fibers and then search the driver's area for fingerprints
D) Search the vehicle for fingerprints and then call a Criminalist to collect the hairs/fibers

Question 13

As a general practice, when packaging items such as clothes, shoes, and bedding from the scene of a sexual assault it would be best to package the items in:

A) Plastic bags
B) Clean aluminum paint cans
C) Paper bags
D) None of the above

Question 14

DNA swabs should be dried and placed in an envelope or cardboard swab container and sealed.

Question 15

For entomological evidence, representative samples of both live and preserved samples from the same areas should be submitted. Preserved samples (fly, eggs, maggots, pupae, and adult flues) can be placed in ______ ethyl alcohol.

A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 80%
D) 100%

Question 16

Evidence collection should take place after ______________ , but prior to ____________.

A) Sketching, Scene briefing
B) Photography, final survey
C) Scene walk-through, photography
D) Search, first response

Question 17

The aquatic crime scene does not present any special challenges than those on land and should be investigated with the same methods and techniques.

Question 18

While processing a crime scene for potential evidence you recognize a knife that may have been used in the crime. Which of the following packaging material is the most acceptable for recovery?

A) Plastic bag
B) Zip-tie (tag)
C) Cardboard box
D) Paper bag

Question 19

Trace evidence, such as hair, should be collected and secured in ______________.

A) Coin envelope
B) Gel lifter
C) Tape and backing card
D) All of the above

Question 20

Out of the following pieces of evidence which one should be collected first at a crime scene?

A) Fingerprints
B) Gun
C) Cartridge cases
D) Clothing