SCCJA Block 3 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is physical evidence?

Any material that may aid in determining the truth during a crime investigation.

What are some types of evidence encountered in crime scenes?

Prints, blood and body fluids, trace evidence, footwear impressions, tire impressions, weapons.

What is the value of physical evidence?

Can prove if a crime has been committed, establish identity, corroborate victim testimony, and more.

What are some preservation techniques for physical evidence?

Secure the scene quickly, start a crime scene log, record time and weather conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What is photographic documentation in crime scenes?

The process of telling the story through photos without deleting any. Signup and view all the answers

Which search pattern starts at the perimeter and works toward the center?

Inward Spiral Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a search pattern?

Random Walk Signup and view all the answers

What should be documented when processing evidence on a victim or suspect?

General, midrange, and close-up observations of what exists at the time. Signup and view all the answers

What are the basic steps for packaging and collecting evidence?

Identify and prioritize evidence, select a search pattern, maintain chain of custody. Signup and view all the answers

What is the chain of custody?

A permanent record of all persons who have handled a piece of evidence. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of evidence integrity?

To obtain accurate measurements of a crime scene. Signup and view all the answers

What is an active shooter?

A suspect whose activity is immediately causing death and serious bodily injury. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between an active shooter and a hostage/barricaded suspect?

An active shooter requires rapid deployment to immediately locate and stop the threat, while a hostage/barricaded suspect involves containment and gathering information. Signup and view all the answers

What are ways of preparing for an active shooter situation?

Be aware of lessons learned, pre-attack indicators, prepare information packets, conduct walkthroughs, maintain weapons, wear ballistics, and be mentally prepared. Signup and view all the answers

Identify initial deployment procedures when arriving on scene.

Use lights and sirens, gather pertinent information, choose secure deployment locations, check gear, orient yourself, and communicate with dispatch. Signup and view all the answers

What are the tactics for contacting a suspect?

Locate and stop the threat, ensure safe shooting skills, remain in cover, give clear commands, and assist the wounded. Signup and view all the answers

What is the survival mind-set?

Be aggressive and decisive, prepared to be fired upon, flexible, and avoid overthinking. Signup and view all the answers

What are improvised explosive device (IED) procedures?

Assess the situation, communicate with dispatch, maintain distance from the IED, and prioritize stopping the shooter. Signup and view all the answers

What is a barricaded suspect?

A suspect in a position of tactical advantage, usually armed and barricaded in a location. Signup and view all the answers

Define traditional deployment.

A tactical concept where law enforcement maintains a perimeter and awaits specialized units to intervene. Signup and view all the answers

What is rapid deployment?

Immediate deployment of law enforcement to ongoing life-threatening situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the timeline of violence?

The period from the suspect's first violent action until it's stopped or a transition occurs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the #1 objective in responding to an active shooter?

Locate, isolate, and control. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the difference between traditional vs. nontraditional response.

Traditional response involves establishing a perimeter and waiting for specialized teams, while nontraditional dictates that officers enter the structure immediately. Signup and view all the answers

List the characteristics of culture.

Learned, range of acceptable behaviors, subject to change, and cannot remain isolated. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the differences between prejudice, intolerance, and stereotypes.

Prejudice is based on judgment or opinions; intolerance arises from ignorance; stereotypes are generalizations about a group. Signup and view all the answers

What are the elements of a law enforcement report?

Time of an event, accuracy, and serving as permanent records for future reference. Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of a good report?

Factual, clear, complete, concise, with transition words, and in chronological order. Signup and view all the answers

What are the steps of successful report writing?

Organizing, revising for clarity, writing in first person, writing in chronological order, and proofreading. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of field notes?

They serve as a precursor to the incident report, helping retain information. Signup and view all the answers

Define objective information.

Verifiable facts such as addresses, vehicle colors, or incident date and time. Signup and view all the answers

What are field notes?

Personal observations recorded by the officer at the scene. Signup and view all the answers

What are best practices while conducting a field interview?

Understand the purpose and take notes on the information obtained. Signup and view all the answers

List methods of taking statements.

Verbal, written, and taped statements. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the recommended order of progression for an initial interview.

Identify self, create a favorable atmosphere, encourage talking, ask questions, and summarize and close. Signup and view all the answers

When should you mirandize?

Prior to questioning that could lead to an incriminating response. Signup and view all the answers

What percent of human communication is nonverbal?

80% Signup and view all the answers

What is a physiological response?

The unconscious and involuntary response that people show when under stress, which can be verbal or nonverbal. Signup and view all the answers

What three questions should you ask at the end of an interview known as the 'verbal lie detector'?

Did you do it, have you told me everything, has everything you told me been the truth? Signup and view all the answers

When interviewing, what percent should the interviewee be talking and the law enforcement officer?

Interviewee should talk 90% of the time and officer should talk 10%. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Omnibus Adult Protection Act?

The Act provides a comprehensive adult protection statute that incorporates a collection of several previous laws and provides for an improved response to adult abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the definitions listed in the Omnibus Adult Protection Act specific to abuse, caregiver, exploitation, facility, investigative entity, neglect, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and vulnerable adult.

Abuse means physical or psychological abuse; caregiver is someone who provides care to a vulnerable adult; exploitation means causing a vulnerable adult to engage in improper activities; facility refers to residential care programs; investigative entity includes various protective service agencies; neglect means failing to provide necessary care; physical abuse involves inflicting injury; psychological abuse refers to threats causing serious distress; vulnerable adult is someone with impaired capacity for self-care. Signup and view all the answers

What are four dynamics of vulnerable adult victimization?

Caregiver stress, perpetrator characteristics, generational violence, self-abuse/neglect. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the investigative and reporting requirements for law enforcement officers when responding to vulnerable adults.

Signup and view all the answers

Explain how to properly apply emergency protective custody to vulnerable adults.

An officer may take a vulnerable adult into protective custody if there is probable cause of imminent danger due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and they must notify relevant agencies immediately. Signup and view all the answers

When should family court hold a probable cause hearing for protective custody?

72 hours. Signup and view all the answers

Is photographing visible trauma on an abused adult possible without consent?

True Signup and view all the answers

What should be stressed when approaching a vulnerable adult investigation?

Focus on victim safety, avoid assumptions, recognize offender tactics, work together. Signup and view all the answers

Is a bedsore a sign of abuse or neglect?

False Signup and view all the answers

Identify common statistically supported situations involving legal issues, police lawsuits, assaults, and killings.

In 2018, there were 58,866 assaults against officers, with improved equipment leading to a decline in officer deaths. Signup and view all the answers

Identify specialized police equipment that can be used to mitigate officer injury.

Body armor, backup guns, flashlight. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the impact distance between the officer and their assailants that affects officers killed in the line of duty.

The number one weapon used to kill officers was firearms when the distance was 10 feet or less. Signup and view all the answers

Identify reasons and causes of officer deaths nationwide.

Shot, job-related illness, automobile crash, struck by a vehicle, motorcycle crash/drowning. Signup and view all the answers

Identify responsibilities of the contact officer and cover officer.

Contact officer handles the encounter, communicates with the suspect, while the cover officer assists and establishes a presence. Signup and view all the answers

Identify types of officer ambushes and various countermeasures.

Direct assault, sniper assault, coordinated attack; countermeasures include fighting back, withdrawing, or trying to deescalate. Signup and view all the answers

Identify deadly mistakes and tactical errors that decrease officer survivability.

Not maintaining a survival mind-set, overreaching control capabilities, failure to communicate; tactical errors include improper positioning and failing to request backup. Signup and view all the answers

Identify proper countermeasures when attacked by an assailant with an edged weapon.

Avoid the knife, create a distance of at least 30 feet, engage only as a last resort. Signup and view all the answers

Identify how to respond to crimes while on-duty in plainclothes or off-duty.

Be a good witness, only engage when tactically sound, and carry identification as well as restraining devices. Signup and view all the answers

Identify proper considerations and tactics for engaging in an incident off-duty.

Create distance between the problem and family, teach family communication protocols, and discuss the survival mindset. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the Golden Rule when confronted by uniformed officers when in plainclothes or armed off duty.

The uniformed officer is in charge; do not argue, comply with commands. Signup and view all the answers

Four considerations for the selection and wearing of a ballistic vest are:

Threat level, concealability, wearability, and body area coverage. Signup and view all the answers

What is a qualified law enforcement officer?

An officer authorized to prevent, detect, investigate, or prosecute any violations of law. Signup and view all the answers

What is a qualified retired law enforcement officer?

A retired officer who left service in good standing from a public agency. Signup and view all the answers

Identify South Carolina controlled substance statutes related to drug enforcement.

S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-370(a) makes it unlawful to manufacture, distribute, or possess controlled substances. Signup and view all the answers

Identify common pharmaceutical and street-level drugs in terms of packaging, weights, paraphernalia, dangers, unusual odors.

Heroin is packaged in grams, cocaine comes in small plastic bags; meth labs have distinctive odors. Signup and view all the answers

Identify basic tactics and techniques related to drug enforcement.

Tactics include uniform drug patrol, drug detection dogs, undercover operations; chain of custody is critical for evidence. Signup and view all the answers

How far of a distance is it a separate offense to possess a sellable amount of a controlled substance from a school?

Within a half-mile radius. Signup and view all the answers

For a PWID, what do officers need to prove to charge suspects?

Officers must prove possession of drugs and intent to distribute them. Signup and view all the answers

When an officer is investigating criminal activity or suspected criminal activity involving drugs, the officer should be?

Extremely cautious and alert. Signup and view all the answers

What is a narcotic?

Refers to opium derivatives and their semi-synthetic substitutes. Signup and view all the answers

What is alcohol?

The oldest, most universal, and widely abused drug, contributing to 41% of deaths in motor vehicle crashes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a field test kit?

It is only presumptive; it must be followed by sending samples to a certified lab for confirmation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the NIK system?

The international standard for field testing suspicious substances. Signup and view all the answers

What are the most common reactions due to marijuana usage?

Paranoia, anxiety, panic attack, hallucinations. Signup and view all the answers

When you encounter a meth lab, what should you do?

Get out as quickly as possible and do not touch or sniff any chemicals. Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you locate a meth lab or suspected meth lab?

Turn the investigation over to SLED or DEA's Clan Lab team if your agency lacks a qualified investigator. Signup and view all the answers

What are the techniques applicable to APC regarding potential crime scenes?

Approach with caution, practice light and sound discipline, control breathing, secure the scene. Signup and view all the answers

What are the types of crime scene locations commonly encountered?

Indoors, outdoors, conveyance. Signup and view all the answers

What are the legal issues that govern crime scene searches?

Officers may enter without a warrant for immediate aid, but a warrant is needed for other investigations. Signup and view all the answers

What are the duties of the first responder at a scene?

Officer safety, public safety, evidence preservation, and rendering medical aid if needed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a crime scene?

A physical location where a crime has allegedly occurred. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of evidence and the types of evidence often encountered?

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Active Shooter Concepts

An active shooter is an individual whose actions are immediately causing death and serious injury, creating a non-contained crisis with a high risk to victims.
Difference between active shooter and hostage/barricaded suspect: Active shooter situations require rapid deployment to stop the threat, while hostage situations focus on containment and gathering information.

Preparation and Deployment

Preparing for an active shooter involves understanding past incidents, noting pre-attack indicators, walking through potential locations, and maintaining readiness with proper equipment and mental preparedness.
Initial deployment procedures include secretive and rapid approaches, ensuring officer safety before engaging with the suspect, and effective communication upon arrival at the scene.

Officer Movement and Tactics

Efficient movement toward the threat is essential; utilize cover and maintain speed to achieve tactical advantages.
Deployment strategies vary by the number of officers involved:
- Single officer must be prepared, while pairs can provide contact and cover roles.
- Larger groups should form diamond formations to cover wider areas effectively.
Breaching techniques are necessary for entering secured areas, knowing how to handle various door types.

Interacting with Suspects

Primary objective in contact with suspects is to neutralize threats effectively and maintain cover.
Officers must have a survival mindset, which involves decisiveness, aggression, and mental flexibility in high-risk encounters.
Improvised explosive device (IED) procedures call for a distancing tactic from the device while ensuring the shooter is still pursued.

Understanding Crime and Culture

Hate crime defined as an offense motivated by bias against identifiable groups, affecting community relations and requiring sensitive handling by law enforcement officers.
Cultural characteristics are learned behaviors that dictate acceptable societal norms and are constantly changing; no culture exists in complete isolation.

Report Writing Essentials

An effective law enforcement report must be factual, clear, complete, concise, and in chronological order to ensure accurate documentation of incidents.
Field notes serve as critical precursors to incident reports, aiding memory retention and the accuracy of details recorded.
Procedures for documenting details involve the systematic gathering of information, including victim statements and scene examinations.

Interview Techniques

Effective interviews involve a significant amount of talking from the interviewee (90% time), ensuring officers guide the discussion without interruption or bias.
Noting physical and psychological reactions during interviews can signal deception; nonverbal cues like posture changes and vocal hesitations are key signs.
Ending interviews with questions designed to probe the truth, such as "Did you do it?" helps clarify the resolution of the encounter.

Omnibus Adult Protection Act

Provides a comprehensive approach to adult protection, establishing standardized definitions and duties for addressing issues like abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults.
Definitions within the Act clarify terms such as abuse, caregiver, and exploitation, ensuring a coherent framework for legal enforcement and protective measures.### Definitions of Key Terms
Exploitation: Involves forcing vulnerable adults into improper or unlawful activities against their wishes.
Facility: Encompasses nursing care facilities, community residential care facilities, psychiatric hospitals, or any program operated by relevant health departments.
Investigative Entity: Includes the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Adult Protective Services, Vulnerable Adults Investigations Unit, and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Neglect: Failure of a caregiver to provide necessary care, leading to risks of physical or mental harm to a vulnerable adult.
Physical Abuse: Intentional infliction of physical injury or allowing such injury to occur.
Psychological Abuse: Deliberate intimidation, threats, or harassment causing emotional distress to vulnerable adults.
Vulnerable Adult: An individual over 18 with physical or mental impairments that hinder self-care or protection.

Dynamics of Vulnerable Adult Victimization

Caregiver Stress: Overwhelmed caregivers may neglect or abuse vulnerable adults.
Perpetrator Characteristics: Certain traits or backgrounds increase the likelihood of abuse or neglect.
Generational Violence: Patterns of violence may repeat across generations, impacting vulnerable adults.
Self-Abuse/N neglect: Vulnerable adults may neglect their own needs, leading to worse outcomes.

Investigative and Reporting Requirements

Law enforcement officers must report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to appropriate entities and face penalties for failing to do so.
Penalties for non-reporting include misdemeanor charges, fines up to $2,500, or imprisonment for up to one year.

Emergency Protective Custody

Law enforcement can take vulnerable adults into protective custody without consent if imminent danger exists due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Immediate notification to Adult Protective Services and the Department of Social Services is required after custody.

Family Court Probable Cause Hearing

A probable cause hearing for protective custody must be held within 72 hours.

Evidence Collection and Documentation

Photographs of visible trauma can be taken without consent for vulnerable adults.
Investigating authorities may request medical exams, and evidence must be documented meticulously for legal processes.

Officer Preparedness and Safety

Maintaining a distance of 6-8 feet from suspects reduces the risk of injury.
Deadly mistakes and tactical errors can decrease officer survivability, emphasizing the need for caution and communication.
Specialized equipment like body armor significantly enhances officers' safety.

Drug Enforcement Strategies

Arrests often require warrants and adherence to legal standards for searches.
Field testing kits provide presumptive support but must be complemented with lab confirmation.
Evidence must be collected and documented thoroughly to maintain integrity throughout the investigation process.

Crime Scene Management

First responders must prioritize officer and public safety while preserving evidence.
Proper documentation includes photographing scenes, following search patterns, and ensuring that the chain of custody is maintained.
Evidence integrity is paramount for a reliable investigation outcome.

Engagement Considerations

Maintain a survival mindset and be prepared for potential dangers when encountering crime scenes or vulnerable situations.
Clear communication with family and teammates is essential for effective response and safety.

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Description

This set of flashcards focuses on key terms related to active shooter situations and their differences from hostage scenarios. Learn the definitions and important distinctions that are crucial for first responders and law enforcement professionals. Perfect for those studying crisis response and public safety.