Forensics Physical Evidence: Crime Scene Investigation
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of forensic science in the context of the criminal justice system?

  • To determine the innocence of a suspect
  • To prove the guilt of a suspect
  • To collect and analyze physical evidence
  • To apply scientific processes to solve legal problems (correct)

    • What is the term used to describe the remnants of evidence left behind at a crime scene?

  • .Trace evidence
  • Circumstantial evidence
  • Proxy data (correct)
  • Direct evidence

    • What type of evidence is considered the original evidence in a legal sense?

  • Circumstantial evidence
  • Physical evidence
  • Direct evidence
  • Best evidence (correct)

    • What is the term used to describe evidence that links a suspect to a crime?

    <p>Associative evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of collecting and analyzing physical evidence?

    <p>To establish the facts of a case</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of evidence is considered vital to the investigation or prosecution of a case?

    <p>Probative evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe evidence that helps to establish that a crime has been committed?

    <p>Corpus delicti evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of collecting and analyzing DNA evidence?

    <p>To link a suspect to a crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of evidence is considered extremely small items, such as hair or fibers?

    <p>Trace evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe evidence that is properly collected, identified, filed, and continuously secured?

    <p>Competent evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of maintaining the chain of custody from discovery to disposal?

    <p>To maintain the integrity of evidence and prevent contamination</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe evidence that is indirectly related to the crime?

    <p>Circumstantial evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the process of comparing a piece of evidence to a known standard?

    <p>Standard of comparison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the unique characteristics of a fingerprint?

    <p>Individual characteristics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the study of the shapes and patterns of bullets?

    <p>Ballistics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the transfer of evidence from one surface to another?

    <p>Cross-contamination</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the elimination of innocent persons from a crime scene?

    <p>Elimination prints</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the scientific study of the characteristics of a crime scene?

    <p>Forensic science</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary responsibility of a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)?

    <p>To develop, process, and package physical evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the 'CSI effect'?

    <p>The influence of Hollywood on juror expectations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of selecting equipment for crime scene investigations?

    <p>To ensure that investigators have the necessary tools to process crime scenes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feature of a fingerprint distinguishes one item from another of the same type?

    <p>Individual characteristics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason for equipment failures during crime scene investigations?

    <p>Lack of training for investigators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fingerprint is left on nonporous surfaces and can be developed through powders or chemicals?

    <p>Latent prints</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of maintaining evidence integrity?

    <p>To document the chain of custody</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using dusting latent fingerprints?

    <p>To make latent prints visible</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the 'chain of custody'?

    <p>The documentation of evidence handling from discovery to disposal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary consequence of improper collection, handling, or identification of evidence?

    <p>The value of evidence may be lost</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main advantage of using Microbeam X-ray fluorescence (MXRF) in fingerprinting?

    <p>It is a non-destructive method</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of elimination prints?

    <p>To eliminate innocent parties from a crime scene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main principle guiding the discovery of evidence?

    <p>The principle of recognizing unusual objects or patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of documenting the discovery of evidence?

    <p>To create a record of evidence handling</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of inking prints?

    <p>To create a database of fingerprints</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the minimum number of matchable characteristics required for positive identification in fingerprinting?

    <p>12</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of processing evidence?

    <p>To ensure the value of evidence is preserved</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the graphic record of the energy patterns emitted by speech?

    <p>Voiceprint</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the study of the mental processes involved in comprehending, producing and acquiring language?

    <p>Psycholinguistics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the building block of chromosomes used in DNA profiling?

    <p>DNA</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a requirement for law enforcement to gather evidence?

    <p>All evidence that helps establish guilt or innocence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a standard of comparison?

    <p>To compare evidence to determine its origin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principle behind forensic light sources (FLSs)?

    <p>Infrared luminescence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common error in collecting evidence?

    <p>Not collecting enough of the sample</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is marking and identifying evidence important?

    <p>So that it can be recognized later</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How should evidence be packaged?

    <p>In a durable container</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How should evidence be transported?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a challenge in managing evidence?

    <p>Lack of storage space</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is required to ensure admissibility of evidence in court?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the Daubert case?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of processing cell phone data in a forensic investigation?

    <p>To extract evidence from the phone's memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of evidence is essential in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) cases?

    <p>Aerosols and surface samples</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the importance of 'product DNA' in forensic investigations?

    <p>It provides valuable leads in a case</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What precaution should be taken when handling bodily fluids and evidence?

    <p>Use universal precautions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of MRSA in forensic investigations?

    <p>It is a staph infection resistant to most antibiotics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern at a WMD crime scene?

    <p>Ensuring public safety</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of X-rays in forensic anthropology?

    <p>To analyze old fractures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be analyzed in wood evidence?

    <p>Type and origin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the importance of maintaining the chain of custody?

    <p>To ensure the evidence is authenticated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be considered as potential health hazards at a crime scene?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary advantage of using DNA profiling in law enforcement?

    <p>It is a cost-effective method for solving high-volume crimes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using sterile, cotton-tipped applicator swabs in DNA collection?

    <p>To collect four DNA samples from the inside surfaces of the cheeks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why should plastic containers not be used to store DNA evidence?

    <p>They can retain moisture, which may damage the DNA sample</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the limitation of Y-STR analysis?

    <p>The DNA profile obtained will be identical for all males within the same paternal lineage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of biogeographical ancestry DNA testing?

    <p>To include or exclude certain people from an investigation based on their ancestry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)?

    <p>It contains DNA profiles from crime scene evidence where the offender's identity is unknown</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the number of DNA profiles in the NDIS forensic index?

    <p>It indicates the number of DNA profiles from crime scene evidence where the offender's identity is unknown</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why has the backlog of DNA awaiting testing increased nationally?

    <p>Due to an increase in the number of DNA samples being submitted</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the Innocence Project's data on DNA exoneration?

    <p>It shows that DNA testing can be used to exonerate innocent suspects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the moral and ethical issue related to DNA profiling?

    <p>The need to balance the needs of law enforcement with the public's interest in preserving civil liberties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of evidence can be used to place an individual at a crime scene, especially in violent crimes?

    <p>Fibers and hairs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the Glass Evidence Reference Database?

    <p>To assess the relative frequency of two glass samples from different sources having the same elemental profile</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of evidence can be used to identify a suspect and is legally admissible in court?

    <p>Bite marks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary challenge in collecting digital evidence from electronic devices?

    <p>The absence of geographic boundaries and the question of jurisdiction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the Forensic Information System for Handwriting (FISH)?

    <p>To merge federal and Interpol databases of genuine and counterfeit identification documents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) in forensic analysis?

    <p>To distinguish trace hair samples using consumer chemicals as identifiers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of evidence can be used to identify a suspect's vehicle?

    <p>Paint samples</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of documenting the handling of electronic devices in digital evidence collection?

    <p>To prevent the contamination of the evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of evidence can be used to place a suspect at a crime scene and is considered circumstantial?

    <p>Soils and minerals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of collecting and analyzing tool marks and tools?

    <p>To identify the type of tool used in a crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Forensics Physical Evidence

    Definitions

    • Forensic science is the application of scientific processes to solve legal problems within the criminal justice system.
    • Best evidence is the original evidence.
    • Physical evidence is anything real that helps to establish the facts of a case.
    • Direct evidence establishes proof of a fact without any other evidence.
    • Indirect evidence (circumstantial evidence) tends to incriminate a person.
    • Trace evidence is a subset of direct evidence, including extremely small items like hair or fibers.
    • Prima facie evidence is evidence established by law.
    • Associative evidence links a suspect with a crime.
    • Corpus delicti evidence establishes that a crime has been committed.
    • Probative evidence is vital to the investigation or prosecution of a case.
    • Material evidence forms a substantive part of the case.
    • Relevant evidence applies to the matter in question.
    • Competent evidence has been properly collected, identified, filed, and continuously secured.

    Crime Scene Investigators

    • A CSI develops, processes, and packages physical evidence found at the crime scene.
    • The CSI effect is a phenomenon created by Hollywood, depicting a glamorized, impractical image of the field.
    • The tech effect is a broad public awareness of modern technology, influencing juror expectations.

    Investigative Equipment

    • Equipment needed for each type of investigation will vary.
    • Examples of equipment include cameras, chalk, containers, fingerprint kits, and more.
    • Selecting equipment involves working with other organizations to identify what is needed.
    • Equipment containers should be carefully chosen and maintained.
    • Transportation of equipment is critical, and a mobile crime lab can be used.

    Crime Scene Integrity and Contamination of Evidence

    • The value of evidence is directly affected by what happens to it immediately following the crime.
    • Cordon off the crime scene to preserve evidence.
    • Maintain evidence integrity by documenting the chain of evidence (chain of custody).
    • Recognize that collecting evidence can result in contamination.

    Processing Evidence: Maintaining the Chain of Custody

    • Discovering or recognizing evidence involves considering the apparent crime and examining the crime scene.
    • Marking, identifying, and collecting evidence involves using a standard of comparison.
    • Packaging and preserving evidence is crucial to maintain its integrity.
    • Transporting evidence requires careful handling and documentation.
    • Protecting and storing evidence involves securing storage and using automated systems.
    • Exhibiting evidence in court requires ensuring admissibility and explaining any changes to the evidence.

    Frequently Examined Evidence

    • Biometrics, the statistical study of biological data, is used to examine physical evidence.
    • Fingerprints are a unique arrangement of small lines on the palmar surface of the fingers.
    • Types of fingerprints include latent, visible, and plastic prints.
    • Fingerprint development and lifting techniques are used to reveal prints.
    • Other types of prints, like palm, foot, and lip prints, can be used.
    • Voiceprints, a graphic record of the energy patterns emitted by speech, can be used for identification.
    • Language analysis, including psycholinguistics, can be used to examine language patterns.
    • Human DNA profiling uses deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to identify individuals positively.### DNA Database
    • The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) contains two indexes: the National DNA Index System (NDIS) and the convicted offender index.
    • The NDIS forensic index contains DNA profiles from crime scene evidence where the offender's identity is unknown.
    • The convicted offender index contains DNA profiles of individuals convicted of sex offenses and other violent crimes.

    DNA Backlog and Admissibility

    • The national backlog of DNA awaiting testing has increased steadily from 657,166 in 2007 to 952,393 in 2009.
    • A DNA match is virtually undisputable in court and can identify a criminal with near absolute certainty or exonerate innocent suspects.

    Exoneration and Moral Issues

    • As of 2007, 325 people had been exonerated through DNA testing.
    • The needs of the law enforcement community must be weighed with the public's interest in preserving its own civil liberties.

    Body Fluids and Other Evidence

    • Blood and other body fluids can provide valuable information.
    • Semen and saliva can be detected with fluorescent lights (FLS).
    • Blood trails or blood "spatter" can be useful as evidence.
    • Every person has a unique scent that cannot be masked or eliminated.
    • Hairs and fibers can place an individual at the crime scene.
    • Shoe and tire impressions can be specific to the shoe or tire.
    • Bite marks can be found on the suspect or victim's body or on anything else placed in the mouth.

    Forensic Analysis

    • A forensic odontologist is recommended for bite mark identification.
    • Teeth may also be an excellent source of genomic DNA.
    • Tools and tool marks can be traced if broken parts are left behind or by marks caused by the use of the tool.
    • Firearms and ammunition can be analyzed through gunpowder tests, shot pattern tests, and functional tests of a weapon.
    • Glass can be used for transfer of evidence and to show where a piece of glass came from at the crime scene.
    • Glass Evidence Reference Database contains over 700 glass samples from manufacturers, distributors, and vehicle junkyards.

    Other Types of Evidence

    • Soils and minerals can place a suspect at a crime scene.
    • Safe insulation can transfer to the suspect's clothing.
    • Ropes, strings, and tapes can be compared.
    • Drugs can be identified using drug identification kits.
    • Documents, such as typing, handwriting, and printing, can be compared.
    • Laundry and dry-cleaning marks can be used for comparisons.
    • Paint colors and samples can lead to the identification of an automobile.
    • Digital evidence, including cell phones, computers, and global positioning systems (GPS), can be used to track criminals and recover evidence.

    Weapons of Mass Destruction

    • Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) include nuclear weapons, radiological, biological or chemical agents, and explosives.
    • Testing matrixes include aerosols, liquids, solids, surfaces, and dermal samples.
    • Public safety takes precedence over evidence collection at a WMD crime scene.

    Skeletal Remains and Other Evidence

    • Laboratories can determine whether skeletal remains are animal or human.
    • Dental comparisons and X-rays of old fractures are important identifying features.
    • Wood comparisons are possible regarding the type of wood and origin.
    • Other types of evidence, such as prescription eyeglasses, broken buttons, and glove prints, can also be examined and compared.

    Evidence Handling and Infectious Disease

    • Consider all body secretions as potential health hazards.
    • Use "universal precautions" when collecting blood evidence and other bodily fluids.
    • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
    • Be alert for sharp objects, such as hypodermic needles and syringes, while processing the crime scene.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the basics of forensic physical evidence, including crime scene investigation, equipment, and chain of custody. It's based on Chapter 5 of Criminal Investigation, 11th Edition by Hess/Orthman/Cho.

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