Term
| Describe the difference between class and individual characteristics of evidence |
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Definition
class characteristics describe traits or characteristics of evidence that allow the item to be compared with a group.
Individual characteristics: allow the forensic scientist to compare an item with a specific object or person and include or exclude it as originated from it. |
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Term
| Of the available methods for DNA analysis which is the best for individualization in forensic work and why? |
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Definition
| The short tandem repeat technology because it has a higher discrimination so degraded and small samples can be examined to the point of individualization. |
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Term
| Describe how tape is used to collect hair and fiber evidence at a crime scene |
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Definition
| In taping a wide clear adhesive tape is cut in 8 to 10 inch lengths. Holding the two opposite edges the technician applies the adhesive side of the tape to the surface in question and applies pressure. Using a bag backing allows the results to be examined. |
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Term
| When evaluating glass fractures for direction of force which fragments can be used in the evaluation. |
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Definition
| they must be radial fractures that are within the first concentric fracture. |
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Term
| How is paint layering used to differentiate two paint samples? |
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Definition
| In circumstances of involving full or partial thickness paint chips the sequence and layering of various components can offer a method of discrimination. |
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Term
| What's some of the most significant forms of environmental variations with soil samples |
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Definition
| inorganic or organic of various minerals and substances and environmental variations |
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Term
| How would evaluating crime scene evidence involving a pistol differ from that involving a revolver? |
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Definition
| A pistol would eject used casings in a crime scene while a revolver would not unless specifically dumped. |
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Term
| Rifling refers to what two manufactured components of a barrel? |
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Definition
| Rifling of the interior of the barrel is made up of projections (lands) and depressions (grooves) that will twist either right or left. |
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Term
| How are bullets marked for evidence and why? |
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Definition
| Ballistic evidence should always be individually containerized and the container clearly annotated as to where in the scene the item was recovered to ensure significant scene context is not lost. |
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Term
| Of the two methods used to collect tool-mark evidence (collection of the entire item or casting of the mark) which is better and why? |
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Definition
| Collecting the entire item to ensure no detail is lost which may happen during casting. |
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Term
| What is the most significant class characteristic in shoe-mark examinations and why? |
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Definition
| The tread design is a significant class discriminator in shoe marks which can identify the associated type and brand of shoe. |
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Term
| What types of containers are used to collect fire scene evidence in which accelerants are believed to be present. |
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Definition
| Arson bags available from forensic suppliers glass jars or paint cans |
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Term
| In terms of a forensic analysis what is the difference between a forged writing and a traced writing? |
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Definition
| Forged writing can be used to identify the winter by comparing their tendencies through exemplars and standards. Tracing is a conscious effort to copy known writing thus cannot be traced to a writer. |
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Term
| What is the most appropriate response by the crime scene technician for collecting a computer for a computer forensic analysis? |
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Definition
If the computer is off photo its condition and label connections. Collect cables pack open bays and seize the peripherals
If running find if there is a destructive program running disconnect power photograph screen package computer. |
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Term
| What are two primary goals of concern to the initial responding officer when reacting to any critical incident. |
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Definition
| Bring site under control and coordinate resources. |
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Term
| What are the five basic objectives the initial officer uses to control the scene and coordinate resources |
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Definition
1. document the provided information
2. Not become a casualty
3. Provide for emergency care
4. Secure and control the scene and all those within it
5. Release the scene to the appropriate authorities |
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Term
| How might a failure to verify the address of a crime scene negatively impact in the investigation? |
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Definition
| It could affect obtaining warrants for the actual scene investigation. |
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Term
| With regard to evidence preservation and emergency care what is the overriding rule for the responding officer? |
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Definition
| The officer would make every effort to preserve evidence while tending to or assisting in lifesaving. |
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Term
| When is it appropriate to slow or stop EMS from entering a crime scene? |
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Definition
| when there is putrefaction of the victim or where the head is in one corner and the body is in another. |
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Term
| If tasked to accompany a victim to the hospital what is the officer concerned with? |
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Definition
| The officer is responsible to document any dying declarations or utterances made by the victim and to collect any evidence removed form the victim during life saving activities. |
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Term
| When confronted with numerous individuals at a crime scene who do not appear to be directly involved what should be the officer consider before chasing them off? |
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Definition
| Respect should be used when asking others to leave the primary scene. |
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Term
| The area contained with in the initial responding officer's crime scene barrier should include three things. ID and describe. |
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Definition
Primary focal points: Where everyone focusses
Natural entry and exit points
Secondary Scenes: Staging areas drop areas for items |
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Term
| How might a natural or man-made barrier in the crime scene negatively affect what an officer includes in his initial crime scene boundary |
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Definition
| It could create an accepted boundary even though items outside that boundary may have evidentiary value. |
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Term
| What is there purpose of a crime scene entry log and when is it put in place? |
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Definition
- Is it document who entered the scene and why
- Start it as soon as possible |
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Term
| During the on-scene debriefing between the initial responding officer and the crime scene team what information should be provided to the team? |
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Definition
| All aspects of what the initial responding officer knows what they found and what they did upon arrival. |
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Term
| Why is sequence of order so important in crime scene processing? |
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Definition
| You only get one chance to do it right. Once altered you can't put the scene back together and try again. |
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Term
| What are the six basic processes accomplished during crime scene processing. |
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Definition
1. Assessing
2. Observing
3. Documenting
4. Searching
5. Collecting
6. Processing/Analyzing |
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Term
| In terms of intrusiveness and alteration to the scene how might the step of documentation alter a crime scene? |
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Definition
| Documentation can be intrusive such as road mapping a blood stain pattern. |
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Term
| Explain why it is necessary for a crime scene technician to be prepared to return to an earlier stage of a processing model. |
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Definition
| This is necessary when a technician discovers previously unobserved evidence since new evidence requires the same level of effort as all other evidence. |
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Term
| Pick any object in your immediate vicinity and using the eight step descriptive set describe the item as complete as possible |
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Definition
Highlighter:
1. 1
2. Highlighter
3. Yellow in color
4. Plastic type of construction
5. Approximately 4" x .5"
6. manufactures marking skill craft highlighter
7. used condition
8. Located on top desk |
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Term
| During the first recheck of the scene are the methods used for the recheck visual or physical |
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Definition
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Term
| Prior to placing a couple in a body bag what are some of the documentation efforts the technician must take? |
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Definition
- If items are observed on the body they should be documented and collected.
- Make sure the clothing and body condition are adequately documented in situ including photographing the front and back of the victim |
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Term
| Rechecks of the scene are continued until when? |
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Definition
| The investigator continues to recheck the scene until the recheck is negative. |
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Term
| When and where do the second and third debriefing occur? |
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Definition
-2nd debriefing of the investigative team check with team after check beyond the scene if everything was completed
-3rd debriefing is a formal one with in 24 hrs after completing the scene with all the primary parties to consider hypothesis |
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Term
| What is the phrase "in as pristine a condition as possible" an important distinction |
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Definition
| To ensure any alteration of a scene was only done to ensure proper processing of the Scene and there was no undue destruction of the scene |
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Term
| What is the primary concern of the scene assessment by the crime scene technician |
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Definition
| Debriefing the responding officers |
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Term
| Why is the use of a single crime scene barrier ineffective? |
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Definition
| A single barrier allows no buffer distance between where the evidence was and the crowd of on lookers |
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Term
| How can enforcing use of the personal protective equipment (PPE) help control scene integrity with regard to police supervisors on scene? |
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Definition
| Requiring PPE to be warn with in a barrier will ensure many supervisors won't go through the hassle to inspect the scene. |
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Term
| When setting up a crime teams what are two basic approaches to team composition and how do they differ? |
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Definition
Area Approach: a single team handles all activities associated with processing
Functional Approach: the team leader designates different teams to do different activities. |
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Term
| Identify and describe three of the four factors that affect decisions about team composition |
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Definition
- Single or multiple scenes
- Order of activity involving specialty examination needs
- Available resources (equipment or personnel)
- Physical size of the scene |
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Term
| Identify and describe the five patterns used to search a crime scene. |
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Definition
1. circle or spiral search
2. strip and line search
3. Grid search
4. zone search
5. point to point search |
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Term
| What are the variations of the zone search and when are they used? |
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Definition
- 1st: is small confined areas like a vehicle
-2nd is a zone to subdivide a larger scene that can be searched via another search method. |
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Term
| Why is post processing exposure to biohazards a problem and how might it occur? |
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Definition
- biohazards tracked in from shoes exposing third parties.
- pens and note books used on scenes |
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Term
| When presented with a possible drug lab how does the crime scene technician respond? |
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Definition
| Leave the area immediately and wait for assistance from a team properly trained and equipped to enter and make the scene safe. |
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Term
| Why is it important to establish standard team processing techniques at a mass crime scene? |
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Definition
| It is critical for creating seamless teams and producing a consolidated scene documentation package. |
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