Untitled Flashcards Set

At what age can someone be fingerprinted?

14 years or older

Where are fingerprints checked?

NCICS

Can physical evidence be present at an arson crime scene?

True

Can contaminants be found on latent fingerprints during lab processes?

True

What is the exclusionary rule?

Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court.

What should be done first with patent impressions, prints, or trace evidence?

They should be photographed first.

What is a patent fingerprint?

A fingerprint that is visible to the naked eye.

What are natural and synthetic fibers?

Natural = cotton; Synthetic = manmade.

What does the linkage triangle illustrate?

Possible transfer of evidence between the suspect, victim, and scene.

What is the purpose of a crime scene sketch?

Provides factual data for crime scene reconstructions.

What are examples of physical evidence?

Fingerprints, hair, fibers, blood, DNA, etc.

What is physical evidence?

Tangible evidence that can be seen, touched, smelled, and collected.

What does CODIS stand for?

Combined DNA Index System.

What is direct evidence?

Evidence that proves a fact without inference (e.g., camera footage, DNA).

What are the three steps in securing a crime scene?

Render aid, Make it safe, Secure the scene.

What does the 4th Amendment protect against?

Illegal searches and seizures.

Why is the method of obtaining evidence important?

Improperly obtained evidence may not be admissible in court.

What must be done once the crime scene is secured?

A field sketch must be created to document the scene.

Who can enter or exit the crime scene?

No one unless logged; all movements must be documented.

Who starts the chain of command?

The first responders.

Why is protecting evidence at the scene important?

To prevent contamination and maintain integrity.

What is needed if there are multiple crime scenes?

A command center.

What must be done if a round passes through a person?

The rounds must be located.

How should blood-contaminated rounds be stored?

In a metal can.

What must you do if multiple cartridges are found at a crime scene?

Place numbered cards next to each one, Label them in sequence, Take a picture, Measure from a reference point.

How should rounds be picked up at a crime scene?

With non-metallic tweezers to avoid scratching the cartridge.

What must be done if bullet holes are found in a wall?

Measure the holes, Measure from a reference point, Sections of the wall may be taken as evidence.

What are lands and grooves?

Unique imprints in the barrel of a firearm.

Where can gunpowder residue be found on a shooter?

Hands, clothes, or hair.

What should be done if a suspect is at the crime scene?

Cover their hands with paper bags.

How should a firearm found in water be collected?

In the same water it was found in to preserve evidence.

How do ballistics experts analyze a firearm?

Fire it in a controlled environment, Match rounds to those found at the crime scene.

How do investigators locate bullets inside a victim?

X-ray the body, Insert a metal rod during the autopsy to trace the bullet path.

What are the differences between venous blood and arterial blood?

Venous blood is darker and found in veins; Arterial blood is bright and found in arteries.

What should be done with an entire garment with blood stains?

It should be collected.

What cannot be packaged in plastic?

No pathogens.

What should be avoided when storing biological evidence?

Heat, Humidity, and Sunlight.

What are the three components of the fire triangle?

Heat, Oxygen, Fuel.

What is the difference between porous and non-porous materials?

Porous materials absorb liquids; Non-porous materials do not.

What is the correct way to measure a body?

Always measure to the center of the body.

What are the conditions for a consent search?

Must be voluntary, individual present, can stop at any time.

What types of warrants are there?

Knock Warrant, No knock warrant.

What is the difference between detention and arrest?

Detention can be prolonged; Arrest requires probable cause.

What is the Locard Exchange principle?

When two objects collide, there is an exchange of evidence.

What is an advantage of physical evidence?

It is tangible.

What defines physical evidence?

Any tangible object associated with a crime or tort.

What must happen for physical evidence to be useful?

It must be collected, preserved, and documented properly.

What is the role of physical evidence in a courtroom?

It may help determine guilt or innocence.

What are class characteristics?

Characteristics shared by a group of objects or persons.

What does individualization refer to?

The identification of the individual source of an evidence item.

What types of characteristics do glass, soil, and fibers have?

Only class characteristics.

What may latent prints be composed of besides skin secretions?

Contaminants such as dirt, grease, or other substances.

What paint samples should be collected in a vehicle-to-vehicle hit-and-run case?

Transferred paint and a paint standard.

From which gland is the protein P-30 derived?

The prostate gland.

What light sources should be used when searching for semen stains?

Ultraviolet (UV) light sources.

What type of evidence may be found on clothing worn by a sexual assault victim?

Transferred evidence from the suspect.