Criminal Investigations Final Exam

U.S. police agencies were modeled after the:

The London Metropolitan Police, established by Robert Peel in 1829, served as the model for modern U.S. policing systems, emphasizing crime prevention.

This English politician is known as the 'father of policing.’:

Sir Robert Peel established the Metropolitan Police Force and introduced principles of ethical and preventative policing.

This American reformer advocated the elimination of politics from policing:

August Vollmer introduced professionalism and education into policing, and is considered the father of modern American policing.

This is the application of scientific techniques in collecting and analyzing physical evidence:

Criminalistics involves applying scientific methods, especially in forensics, to solve crimes through evidence analysis.

The idea that contact between individuals results in transfer of evidence is called:

Locard's Exchange Principle states that when two objects come into contact, a transfer of material occurs, which can be used in criminal investigations.

Policing at the local level includes all of the following except:

State police operate at the state level, not local. Local policing includes municipal, city, and county police departments.

City police departments provide which areas of service:

handle patrol, traffic, detective work, and more.

This is the study of the effects of poisons:

Toxicology involves studying how chemical substances affect living organisms, crucial in poisoning cases.

The reform movement:

It aimed to remove political influence, raise standards, and implement civil service systems.

Term for English police in reference to Robert Peel:

'Bobbies' was a nickname for police officers established under Robert Peel in the UK.

______ exists when enough facts lead a reasonable person to believe a fair probability of criminal activity exists:

Probable cause is a legal standard required to make an arrest or obtain a search warrant.

Which constitutional amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?

The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens from unlawful searches and seizures by authorities.

Search allowed by voluntarily relinquishing protections:

A consent search is legal if the person voluntarily agrees to it without coercion.

Temporary detainment and pat-down if criminal activity is suspected:

This is allowed when police have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Doctrine permitting seizure of evidence in plain sight:

If an officer is legally present and evidence is in plain view, it can be seized without a warrant.

Type of conditions permitting warrantless entry if evidence is likely to be found:

Exigent circumstances allow for warrantless entry to prevent destruction of evidence or protect life.

Method used to prevent illegally obtained evidence from being used at trial:

This rule prohibits evidence obtained through constitutional violations from being used in court.

Legal hearing to return a fugitive to the state where the crime occurred:

Extradition involves returning a suspect to the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.

Tracking evidence from finding to court:

Maintaining a chain of custody ensures evidence is authentic and untampered.

What should not be released to the media by investigators?

Releasing specific details may compromise the investigation or taint witness testimony.

First step in processing a crime scene:

A proper assessment is essential to preserve evidence and determine the scope.

When can victim identity be released?

Victim identities are kept confidential until proper family notification.

Traditional marking of evidence should include all EXCEPT:

Evidence is marked with initials, date, and case number—not names of suspects.

What must accompany physical evidence to the lab?

This report provides context, chain of custody, and nature of tests requested.

Lines of defense for officers regarding infectious disease

Tongs are for evidence handling, not personal protection. PPE includes gloves, masks, and eyewear.

How should a crime report be written?

Reports should be objective, accurate, and easily understood.

Which best describes a cold case?

are unresolved and inactive due to a lack of leads.

Who is usually the first responder in a preliminary investigation?

Patrol officers secure the scene and begin documentation.

Chimel v. California (1969) established the:

Limited searches to the suspect and area within reach during an arrest.

Which rule was established by the Chimel case?

Ensures searches are confined and justified post-arrest.

How are search warrants utilized?

Recover stolen property, drugs, or tools used in crimes.

Which case requires reasonable suspicion for stop?

Allowed brief stops and frisks if criminal activity is suspected.

Placing a person in custody for a suspected law violation is called:

An arrest legally restricts a person's freedom.

Which situation best illustrates an arrest?

Physical restraint without freedom to leave constitutes arrest.

Which case redefined the 'fleeing felon rule'?

Restricted deadly force use unless the suspect poses a threat.

Which of the following is a goal of interrogation?

aim to find the truth and support prosecutions.

Sam Smith's confession was ruled inadmissible due to lack of food and water. This is:

Coercive conditions invalidate voluntary confessions.

Threatening physical abuse to get a confession is:

Coerced confessions violate due process and are inadmissible.

When are Miranda warnings required?

Protects suspects during custodial questioning.

Ideal interrogation room setup:

Reduces stress and builds rapport for truthful answers.

Use of polygraph best described as:

While not always admissible, it supports investigation.

Why do innocent people confess?

Intoxication, fear, or ignorance can lead to false confessions.

Key technology in satellite-assisted surveillance:

GPS enables real-time tracking and location data.

Criminal intelligence is:

Evaluated information used for decision-making in law enforcement.

When should officers begin taking notes?

Early note-taking ensures accurate recollection.

What search method covers large areas?

Officers walk in straight lines to cover ground evenly.

Who helped develop the FBI from their security agency?

Vollmer's innovations influenced FBI development.

Criminal Investigators are what type of police response?

They investigate crimes after they occur.

Duty of the first responding officer:

First responders ensure safety before evidence handling.

Which best describes the role of the investigator?

Investigators handle follow-ups and complex or major crimes after patrol's initial response.

Which describes Locard's Exchange Principle?

This foundational forensic principle suggests every contact leaves a trace.

Third conceptual approach to current policing styles:

Intelligence-led policing uses data and analytics to guide strategies.

Community-oriented policing best described as:

It builds trust and fosters collaborative problem-solving.

A specialized investigator is assigned to all EXCEPT:

typically do not investigate routine traffic infractions.

Which is NOT a general assignment for an investigator?

First response and documentation is typically done by patrol officers.

Policing model that fosters two-way relationship with community:

Focuses on communication, cooperation, and partnership with the public.

Example of a cold case:

are unsolved crimes lacking leads, often reopened years later.

FBI DNA platform created in 1990:

CODIS helps match DNA from crime scenes with known offenders.

Process of documenting evidence handlers and location:

Also called chain of custody; critical for legal admissibility.

Effect where people overestimate forensic knowledge:

TV shows distort public perception of forensic science and investigation speed.

Process of identifying, documenting, and collecting crime scene evidence:

Includes photographing, sketching, and collecting all potential evidence.

Search pattern with side-by-side walking team:

Best for large outdoor scenes, with searchers walking in straight lines.

Search pattern starting at center and moving outward:

Used when there's a central point of interest, such as a body.

Residue left on shooter from firearm discharge:

Can be used to determine if a suspect recently fired a gun.

Print often invisible until treated:

Latent prints are developed using powders, chemicals, or light sources.

Final photo range that focuses on evidence:

Close-ups document details of individual items of evidence.

Someone negatively affected by crime:

The victim suffers harm or loss from the criminal act.

Theory that behavior is modeled after admired others:

People imitate behaviors they see rewarded or modeled by others.

Theory involving pressure to obtain what others have:

Suggests people may turn to crime when they cannot achieve societal goals.

Entering property without consent:

Unlawful entry onto land or property of another person.

Which best describes vandalism?

Willful destruction of property, often for expressive or impulsive reasons.

Tools linked to burglary may result in charge of:

Possession of items commonly used to commit break-ins is a crime.

Most tactical response to burglary scene:

Quiet response avoids alerting suspects and increases chance of capture.

Robber who plans carefully to avoid detection:

A professional robber is methodical and avoids risk through planning.

Robber acting on impulse:

Amateurs are opportunistic, often unplanned, and less cautious, increasing their risk of capture.

Theory involving motivated offender, target, and lack of guardian:

This theory explains that crime occurs when three elements— offender, target, and lack of guardian-converge.

Taking something of value without force:

Larceny is theft without entry, force, or threat—like shoplifting or pickpocketing.

Individual who receives and sells stolen goods:

A "fence" buys and resells stolen property for profit, playing a key role in property crimes.

Agency investigating mail theft:

This federal agency investigates crimes involving the postal system, including theft and fraud.

Expert who determines manner of death:

Medical examiners conduct autopsies and classify deaths as natural, accidental, homicide, etc.

When one person intentionally kills another:

Homicide includes all killings of one person by another —lawful or unlawful.

Death caused by another via criminal act or omission:

Homicide becomes criminal (e.g., murder, manslaughter) when it involves negligence or intent.

Premeditated and intentional killing:

First-degree murder is the most serious, involving planning and intent.

Example of involuntary manslaughter:

This type of killing is unintentional but caused by reckless or negligent behavior.

Cause of death refers to:

It identifies the specific medical reason for death, like a gunshot or heart attack.

Death by medical reasons or aging:

Natural death occurs from internal conditions like illness or organ failure.

Death due to accident or natural disaster:

Accidental deaths are unintended and often occur during daily activities.

Person taking their own life:

Suicide is the intentional act of ending one's life.

Criminal killing of another:

Murder is unlawful killing with intent or extreme recklessness.

Main goal of terrorism:

Terrorism aims to instill fear and disrupt through violent or ideological means.

Reason for terrorist actions:

Terrorist acts are often intended to attract attention and grow influence or membership.

Large-scale killing of ethnic group:

Genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.

Violent crime based on prejudice:

Hate crimes are driven by bias toward race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

What type of crime is small in overall number?

Terrorist incidents are rare compared to crimes like theft or assault.

Eco-terrorism groups are examples of:

These groups act on social, environmental, or political causes, often opposing corporate or governmental actions.

Groups fearing government gun confiscation:

Militia groups often operate independently and are driven by antigovernment or constitutional beliefs.

Group that rejects U.S. government authority:

Sovereign citizens do not recognize federal authority and often use pseudo-legal arguments.

Lone actor in terrorist activity:

A "lone wolf' commits acts of terrorism without direction from larger organizations, making detection harder.

First responders to terrorism:

Local police are usually the first on scene and must manage safety, containment, and communication.