Questions and Answers
A component of the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network is called:
Which of the following is a national fingerprint and criminal history system maintained by the FBI and launched in 1999?
Juries often accord scientific evidence lesser weight than other evidence.
False
Evidence with individual characteristics can lead to a determination of common origin (single source). Which type of evidence CANNOT yield such results?
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When measured or examined with extreme precision, no two items—even those originating from the same source—are exactly alike.
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Which source of CODIS contains DNA profiles from unsolved crime scene evidence?
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A comparison analysis subjects a suspect specimen and a control specimen to the same tests and examinations for the ultimate purpose of determining:
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To permit a positive identification, testing procedures must be sufficient to exclude all other substances.
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The 'jigsaw fit' of known and questioned fragments is important for court presentation primarily because:
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The 'jigsaw fit' of known and questioned fragments demonstrates common origin when a match is made.
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Most items of physical evidence retrieved at crime scenes can be linked definitively to a single person or object.
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The greatest weakness of class evidence is that examiners cannot assign exact or even approximate probability values to the comparison of most class evidence.
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The likelihood of finding class physical evidence is ________ the likelihood of finding physical evidence with individual characteristics.
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Physical evidence can be used to exonerate or exclude a person from suspicion if:
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The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) became fully operational in what year?
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Multiplying together the frequencies of independently occurring factors is called:
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Eyewitness testimony and confessions are not as susceptible to dispute, human error, or bias as class evidence.
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Paint chips, random glass fragments, and synthetic fibers all exhibit:
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The database that includes more than 300 manufacturers of shoes with more than 8,000 different sole patterns is the:
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Identification requires that the number and type of tests needed to identify a substance be sufficient to exclude all other substances.
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A computerized archive of information relating to a specific type of physical evidence is a(n):
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The jury ultimately determines the significance of physical evidence in a trial.
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When a forensic analyst determines the chemical composition of preparations that may contain illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or barbiturates, this is an example of:
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Determining that an explosive mixture contains dynamite is an example of the process of comparison.
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Bloodstains only have class characteristics.
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Identification is the process of determining a substance's physical or chemical identity.
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CODIS is maintained by the FBI and thus does not enable local crime laboratories to electronically exchange and compare DNA profiles.
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Class evidence is not unique and therefore not useful to forensic scientists.
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The computerized database used to store DNA information is:
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Forensic databases are maintained for all of the following EXCEPT:
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The database that contains chemical and color information pertaining to original automotive paints is the:
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Class characteristics are properties of evidence that can be attributed to a common source with an extremely high degree of certainty.
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The corroborative use of physical evidence means that it can be used to:
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The value of class physical evidence lies in its ability to:
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The examination of a paint chip found on a hit-and-run victim's garment side-by-side with paint removed from a vehicle suspected of being involved in the incident is an example of:
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Shoeprints cannot be used to aid in a crime scene reconstruction.
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Who ultimately determines the significance of physical evidence in a trial?
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It is a duty of the forensic scientist to draw a conclusion about the origins of the specimens.
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Evidence having class characteristics can exonerate an innocent suspect.
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Determining that an explosive mixture contains dynamite is an example of the process of:
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Evidence having class characteristics can:
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Physical evidence is considered to have ________ that of eyewitness (testimonial) evidence.
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The PDQ is maintained by the:
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The value of class physical evidence lies in its ability to corroborate events with data in a manner that is, as nearly as possible, free of human error and bias.
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As the number of objects linking an individual to a crime scene increases, so does the likelihood of that individual's involvement with the crime.
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To calculate the overall frequency of occurrence of a blood type in a population, the ________ can be applied by using a series of blood factors that occur independently of each other.
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If the laboratory can piece broken glass from a window or headlight together, then the evidence has ________ characteristics.
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Paint and fibers are examples of class characteristics.
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Study Notes
National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN)
- A key component of NIBIN is IBIS (Integrated Ballistics Identification System), which helps analyze ballistics evidence.
Forensic Fingerprinting
- IAFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System) is the national fingerprint and criminal history system of the FBI, operational since 1999.
Scientific Evidence in Court
- Juries tend to give equal weight to scientific evidence compared to other forms of evidence.
Individual Characteristic Evidence
- Single-layer paints do not yield common origin results, as opposed to tools, tires, and fingerprints that possess individual characteristics.
Unique Items
- No two items, even from the same source, are identical when examined with high precision.
CODIS (Combined DNA Index System)
- The forensic index in CODIS contains DNA profiles from unsolved crime scene evidence.
Comparison Analysis
- The purpose of comparison analysis is to determine whether a suspect and control specimen share a common origin.
Positive Identification Requirements
- Testing procedures must exclude all other substances for a positive identification to be valid.
Jigsaw Fit Importance
- The "jigsaw fit" of evidence fragments is critical for demonstrating common origin in court.
Majority of Physical Evidence
- Most physical evidence collected from crime scenes cannot be definitively linked to a single individual or source.
Weakness of Class Evidence
- Class evidence lacks the ability to assign precise probability values, making it less definitive in investigations.
Class vs. Individual Characteristics
- Class physical evidence is more commonly found than evidence with individual characteristics.
Exoneration through Evidence
- A standard reference sample that does not match crime scene evidence can exonerate a suspect.
CODIS Operation Year
- The Combined DNA Index System became fully operational in 1998.
Product Rule
- The process of multiplying the frequencies of independently occurring factors is referred to as the product rule.
Eyewitness Testimony Reliability
- Eyewitness accounts and confessions are susceptible to human error and bias like class evidence.
Characteristics of Paint Chips and Fibers
- Paint chips, glass fragments, and fibers exhibit class characteristics and are not unique.
Shoeprint Database
- The SICAR database contains extensive information about manufacturers and sole patterns of shoes.
Forensic Database
- A forensic database is a computerized archive for a specific type of physical evidence.
Identification Process
- Identification refers to determining a substance's physical or chemical identity.
Importance of Class Evidence
- Class evidence can provide valuable investigative leads, even though it is not unique.
Value of Physical Evidence
- Physical evidence generally holds greater value than eyewitness testimony in court proceedings.
Class Evidence Utilization
- Class evidence can link a suspect to a crime and also exonerate innocent individuals.
Increasing Links to a Crime Scene
- A higher number of objects connecting an individual to a crime scene enhances the likelihood of their involvement.
Blood Type Frequency Calculation
- The product rule is utilized to determine blood type frequency in a population.
Characteristics of Glass Evidence
- When a forensic analyst reconstructs broken glass pieces, it exhibits individual characteristics.
Class Characteristics in Fibers and Paint
- Fibers and paint are classified as having class characteristics, contributing to forensic analysis.
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Description
Test your knowledge on forensic science concepts, particularly focusing on national databases like IBIS and IAFIS, and the treatment of scientific evidence in court. This quiz will challenge your understanding of key terms and principles in forensic studies.
