Deck 2: Securing and Searching the Crime Scene

Question 1

A corpse was discovered in an apartment last November. It was that of a 50-year-old male who died of a heart attack. At the time of discovery, the body temperature was determined to be 89∘F. What is the most probable post mortem interval?

A) 2 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 1 hour
D) 4 hours
E) 7 hours

Answer 1

E

Question 2

The most basic methods of crime scene recording include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) infrared analysis.
B) narrated videotape.
C) sketches.
D) photographs.
E) note taking.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Charred debris from an arson scene should be:

A) thrown away with the other fire debris.
B) packaged in air tight glass jar.
C) placed in Ziploc® bags.
D) aired out before packing in plastic wrap.
E) placed together with similar items in a paper bag.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

As the post mortem interval increases, the concentration of potassium in the vitreous humor of the eye:

A) remains the same.
B) decreases.
C) increases.

Question 5

If the crime scene includes a dead body, the photographer should:

A) determine the time of death.
B) depict injuries and weapons at scene.
C) attempt to identify the victim.
D) attempt to locate the victim's next of kin.
E) document all forensic personnel at crime scene.

Question 6

Which statement about note taking is NOT true?

A) Notes should include location of physical evidence recovered.
B) Note taking is done after all crime scene processing has been completed.
C) The date of the investigation should be recorded.
D) Disposition of items after collection must be included.
E) The individual who packaged and marked items of evidence should be recorded.

Question 7

The first officer arriving at a crime scene, after providing or obtaining medical assistance for the injured and effecting an arrest of suspects (if possible), should immediately:

A) photograph the scene.
B) search for evidence.
C) make a rough sketch of the scene.
D) take notes.
E) secure the scene.

Question 8

Physical evidence at a hit-and-run scene could include:

A) glass fragments.
B) fabric impressions.
C) paint chips.
D) fiber and tissue.
E) all of the above

Question 9

Which is NOT a manner of death?

A) accident
B) suicide
C) natural
D) drowning
E) homicide

Question 10

The collection of standard reference samples at the crime scene is important because they:

A) prevent the laboratory from making mistakes.
B) are obtained only from suspects in cases of violent assault.
C) prove the continuity of possession.
D) serve as a source of extra test material if required in the crime lab.
E) permit comparisons to be made with the evidence.

Question 11

The rate of cooling of a dead body can be influenced by all BUT the:

A) exposure to direct sunlight.
B) weather conditions.
C) location.
D) size of body.
E) gender of victim.

Question 12

Which of the following is a correct physical evidence collection procedure?

A) All items collected from the same grid area should be packaged together.
B) The victim's clothing should be obtained at the crime scene and vacuumed to obtain trace evidence.
C) Bloodstained garments should be packaged separately in paper bags.
D) Every item collected should be secured individually in a plastic bag to prevent contamination.
E) Items recovered from the scene of a murder should be sent along with the body to the medical examiner.

Question 13

Which crime scene search pattern would absolutely require more than one investigator?

A) line
B) zone
C) spiral
D) grid
E) none of the above

Question 14

A rough sketch need NOT include a:

A) location of walls, doors and windows in the building on scene.
B) sketch of the suspect(s).
C) compass heading designating north.
D) date, location, and time of the incident.
E) location of all recovered physical evidence.

Question 15

According to forensic entomologists, which "witness" is the first to arrive at the crime scene?

A) mite
B) spider
C) carrion beetle
D) blow fly
E) centipede

Question 16

The successful outcome of a criminal investigation is almost always directly related to:

A) the manner in which the evidence is collected and preserved.
B) the number of people employed in the crime lab.
C) the volume of the physical evidence collected.
D) the complexity of the crime.
E) whether the crime is considered high profile.

Question 17

Success in the recognition and collection of physical evidence is determined primarily by the:

A) type of evidence involved.
B) size of the budget of the crime lab.
C) time available to the evidence collectors.
D) skill of personnel processing the crime scene.
E) notoriety of the case.

Question 18

CAD programs enhance the ability to:

A) produce a finished crime scene sketch.
B) edit videotape.
C) develop photographs.
D) create chain-of-custody documents.
E) take complete notes.

Question 19

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

A) a druggist fold.
B) sealed, airtight containers.
C) a plastic Ziploc® bag.
D) both B and C
E) none of the above

Question 20

A properly maintained chain of custody is NOT the responsibility of the:

A) evidence clerk.
B) forensic technician.
C) trial judge.
D) trace evidence examiner.
E) crime scene processor.

Question 21

The crime scene notes must accurately record:

A) the tasks assigned each investigator.
B) personnel arrivals and departures from the scene.
C) descriptions of evidence present at the crime scene.
D) arrival and departure times of media personnel and on-lookers.
E) A, B, and C.

Question 22

All of the following items may be placed in an airtight container except:

A) explosive residues
B) hairs and fibers
C) bloodstained clothing
D) charred debris recovered from a fire
E) glass

Question 23

Crime scene sketches serve a unique purpose in permanently documenting the location of evidence:

A) collected and removed from the crime scene.
B) containing drug evidence.
C) processed at the crime scene.
D) not documented in photographs.
E) in plain view.

Question 24

If a cause of death cannot be found through simple observation of the victim, a(n) ___________ is typically carried out.

A) drug screening
B) autopsy
C) facial reconstruction
D) crime scene investigation
E) anthropological profile

Question 25

Evidence of tampering with the position of a body after death can be obtained by evaluating the:

A) rigor mortis.
B) algor mortis.
C) livor mortis.
D) both B and C
E) none of the above

Question 26

Which type of evidence must be packaged separately from other evidence?

A) biological stain evidence
B) DNA-containing evidence
C) arson evidence
D) A and B
E) all of the above

Question 27

Estimations of the postmortem interval (PMI) using entomological evidence must take into account:

A) the species of insect present.
B) geographical location of the decedent's body.
C) the location's climate over time.
D) weather conditions.
E) all of the above

Question 28

Typically, about an hour after death, the a deceased body loses heat at a rate of approximately ___________ until the body reaches the environmental temperature.

A) 12 ˚F per hour
B) 1-1 ½ ˚F per minute
C) 0.1-0.2 ˚C per hour
D) 1-1 ½ ˚C per hour
E) 1-1 ½ ˚F per hour

Question 29

The stage of fusion of various bones within a skeleton can be used to estimate the ___________ of the decedent.

A) occupation
B) age
C) race
D) gender
E) height

Question 30

Investigators should collect possible carriers of trace evidence which may include:

A) vacuum sweepings.
B) clothing.
C) vehicles.
D) fingernail scrapings.
E) all of the above.

Question 31

Which of the following items is likely to contain DNA evidence?

A) a glass fragment
B) a bedsheet
C) a self-adhesive mailing stamp
D) a blue rug fiber
E) all of the above

Question 32

Rigor mortis refers to the:

A) odor of death.
B) stiffness of death.
C) temperature of death.
D) time of death.
E) color of death.

Question 33

The systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information is a process known as:

A) criminal profiling.
B) forensic science.
C) crime scene investigation.
D) the scientific method.
E) crime scene reconstruction.

Question 34

What part of a decedent's body resists rapid decomposition and is used by forensic anthropologists to provide information about the decedent?

A) bones
B) cartilage
C) soft tissue
D) hair fragments
E) teeth

Question 35

Insect evidence should be collected:

A) at the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigator.
B) upon the finding of the decedent by the first responding officer.
C) only from the body.
D) at the crime laboratory by forensic analysts.
E) during the autopsy by the medical examiner.

Question 36

To determine the gender of skeletal remains, a forensic anthropologist can examine all of the following area of the skeleton except:

A) cranium
B) pelvis
C) sacrum
D) vertebrae
E) femur

Question 37

Videotapes of the crime scene:

A) are required in all jurisdictions.
B) are generally of poor quality and little value.
C) can be used in place of notes and photographs.
D) must be complemented by a hard copy of notes and separate still photographs.
E) are not admissible in court due to the poor image quality.

Question 38

A forensic anthropologist may help to create a(n) __________ to help with the identification of the victim.

A) fingerprint chart
B) dental profile
C) DNA profile
D) autopsy chart
E) facial reconstruction

Question 39

List and explain the responsibilities of the first officer at a crime scene.

Question 40

Define physical evidence and its significance to the area of forensic science.

Question 41

Define and explain the concept of the chain of custody.

Question 42

Describe the proper techniques for packaging evidence at a crime scene.

Question 43

Diagram and describe the four primary search patterns that are employed to systematically search a crime scene for physical evidence.

Question 44

Define and explain the role(s) of the following forensic specialists:
--Forensic Pathologist
--Forensic Entomologist
--Forensic Anthropologist

Question 45

List and explain the necessary steps to thoroughly record a crime scene.