CRIM 345: Exam 1 (CH 1 - 5, 19) USI

Callahan

Crime prevention efforts attempt to _____________________.

Repress crime

What best describes “negative evidence?”

The absence of evidence at the scene that could be used to exonerate an individual.

What is meant by an intrusive process at a crime scene?

Actions that physically alter a crime scene.

What type of evidence do criminal investigators seek to obtain during an investigation?

Both physical AND testimonial

Which of the following is an example of classification evidence?

Clothing

Which of the following is NOT one of the duties of a crime scene investigator?

Project theories or motives

What is considered a time indicator?

Evidence like expired food or mail that is piled up at a scene that suggests a significant period of time has lapsed at a crime scene.

When entering a crime scene, which is NOT considered one of the "Cardinal Rules?"

Actively processing pieces of evidence.

True or False: According to lectures and the text, unsworn personnel like medical examiners or prosecutors are considered crime scene investigators.

True

When entering a crime scene, first responders should:

limit foot traffic in and out of the crime scene.

What are common types of crime scene documentation?

• Note taking

• Photography

• Sketches

Which of the following is NOT considered one of the steps to a successful scene processing methodology?

Manipulating

According to the text, what best describes the Locard exchange principle?

It is not possible to enter a place without changing it, either by bringing something to it or removing something from it.

Notes taken at the crime scene should include ___________.

• The date/time the crime was reported

• The location of the crime scene and a description of the area

• The type of crime

What is meant by the phrase "going back?"

Stopping the current phase of evidence collection to assess new evidence that was not identified during the initial assessment of the scene.

The __________ Amendment outlines the basis of search and seizure procedure that law enforcement must follow.

Fourth (4th)

Which is NOT one of the three major classifications of bloodstain patterns discussed in the course materials?

Active

_________ is the legal doctrine that asserts any subsequent information derived from illegally seized physical evidence is inadmissible in court.

Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

___________ is best described as the application of science and engineering to the recovery of digital evidence in a legally acceptable method.

Digital Forensics

An exemplar needed for comparative laboratory analysis is called a(n) _________.

Known Sample

Who is responsible for crime scene reconstruction?

• Police personnel

• Forensic specialists

• Lab & medical examiners

What is a major difference when handling stand-alone computers rather than computers on a network?

Computers on a network should not be unplugged before referring to forensic computer specialist.

A ____________ can be used to block incoming and outgoing signals to mobile devices.

Faraday Bag

Ballistics refers to ____________.

The trajectory of a projectile

Physical evidence should _________.

Be handled as little as possible

_________ is the process by which the evidence that is collected at a crime scene is used to determine how the crime was committed.

Crime Scene Reconstruction

What are common ways computer evidence may be mishandled or destroyed?

• Unauthorized personnel asked to assist with data requests

• Nonexperts using common software to navigate data

• Improper evidence packaging or transportation

_______________ is proof that evidence collected during an investigation and evidence submitted to the court are one and the same.

Chain of Custody

True or False: Digital evidence is only related to the investigation of cybercrime offenses.

False

Which of the following is an example of poor evidence collection techniques?

Packaging more than one item of evidence in the same container or bag.

What are the goals of Crime Scene Investigation?

• Crime prevention

• protections of life, property, and personal liberties

What is testimonial evidence?

• interviews

  • suspects

  • victims

  • witnesses

  • experts in the field

How is testimonial evidence collected?

• audio/ video

• written reports/ accounts

• sworn testimony (examination or cross examination)

What is Evidence Classification?

• item(s) of evidence shares a common source

• Ex:

  • clothing

  • mass produced items (factory)

What is Evidence Individualization?

• Unique items that can only come from 1 source

• Ex:

  • fingerprints

  • tool marks

  • biological stains

What are important considerations for developing a scene processing approach?

• knowledge

• skills and tools

• methodical approach

• flexibility

• coordinated effect

What are the responsibilities of the first on the scene?

• making the scene safe

• protecting the scene

• controlling the crime scene

• identifying primary focal point

• identifying natural entry and exit point

• identifying if there is a possible secondary scene or not

• identifying injuries on the scene

• identifying if their are deceased individuals on scene

What are the “Cardinal Rules” of entering a crime scene?

• Wear gloves

• Leave items/ evidence where you found them

• document findings

What are some examples of documentation considerations?

• doors/ windows

• lights

• odors

• time indicators

What are some examples of ways to protect a crime scene?

• crime scene tape

• rope

• police vehicles

  • get creative with what you have!

What are some examples of crime scene investigators that are specialized personnel?

• crime scene technician

• crime scene analyst

What are some examples of crime scene investigators that are unsworn personnel?

• medical examiner

• prosecutor (sometimes)

What are the objectives of a crime scene investigation?

• reconstruct crime scene

• ascertain sequence of events

• determine mode of transportation

• find motive

• discover if property is missing or stolen

• find out actions of offender

• recover physical evidence of the crime

• determine perpetrator(s) of the crime

• identifying the victim(s)

What are the responsibilities of a crime scene investigator?

• unbiased processing of the scene

• time os on your side

• hindsight is always 20-20

  • not always obvious as they appear

  • evidence that might appear unrelated may be extremely important

• CSI only responsible for processing

What are the basic activities of scene processing?

• assessing

• observing

• documenting

• searching

• collecting

• processing

• “going back”

Why is scene processing so complicated?

• must be thorough!!

• evidence collected or omitted may have serious repercussions

• may be called to complete complex tasks

  • scene recreation

  • jury preparation

• is a scientific process

• only have 1 chance to process the scene

  • some scenes may not go to trial for months or years!!

What are the steps for processing a crime scene?

• plan of action

• note-taking

• crime scene search

• crime scene photography

• sketching the crime scene

• collecting the evidence

What types of cameras may be used when photographing a crime scene?

• 35mm

• “point & shoot”

• polaroid

• digital

What types of photographs might be taken when photographing a crime scene?

• location/ overalls

• witness/ spectators

• evidence (w/ or w/o scale)

• closeups

What is included when logging a photograph of a crime scene?

• case number

• date/ time

• photographer’s name

• camera type

• lens

• shutter speed

• F-stop/ aperture

• brief description of the photo

What are some examples of evidence that should be collected if present @ a crime scene?

• trace evidence

• touch evidence

• fingerprints

What should be on packaged evidence from a crime scene?

• item number

• date/ time

• case number

• type of case

• collectors’s name & info

What is the primary focus of physical evidence collection

• avoiding legal issues

  • chain of custody

  • 4th amendment considerations

• avoiding scientific issues

  • safe storage

  • forensic testing considerations

What are some 4th Amendment exceptions?

• search incident to a lawful arrest

• plain view exceptions

• consent is given

• exigent circumstances

What are examples of forensic exemplars or known samples?

• buccal/ check swabs

• fingerprints

• automobiles

Why are breathable containers important regarding handling physical evidence?

• using plastic bags or heat-sealed containers can cause mold to form

• something common, light-weight, and easier to store is better

What are sealed containers used for regarding handling physical evidence?

• commonly used to store drugs, narcotics

• liquids

• volatile materials

Why is double packaging important regarding handling physical evidence?

• prevents the loss of microscopic materials

• druggist’s fold

Why is chain of custody important to show regarding physical evidence collection and handling?

• courts require evidence to be collected in proper documented manner

• proof of integrity

• chains shows

  • who came in contact with evidence

  • date/time

  • circumstances

  • changes (if any) were made

What information is important regarding showing chain of custody with collection of physical evidence?

• name/ initials of collector

• date(s) collected & transferred

• agency, case #, & type of crime

• voucher or property clerk number

• victim &/ or suspect crime

• storage location

• brief description of item

What events might be included in HAZMAT crime scenes?

• mass disasters

• terrorist acts

• bombings

• major fires

What is digital forensics?

the application of science & engineering to the recovery of digital evidence in a legally acceptable method

What are some example of digital evidence?

• identity theft

• gambling

• terrorism

• internet crimes

• organized crime/ drugs

• crimes of violence

• trade secret theft

• theft/ destruction of intellectual property

• financial crimes

• property crimes

• public corruption

• white collar crimes

What are common ways. evidence is mishandled &/ or destroyed?

• improper evidence packaging or transportation

• non-experts using common software to navigate data

  • can overwrite files

  • suspect may booby-trap data

• unauthorized personnel asked to assist w/ data requests

How should stand-alone computers be handled?

• pull power cord to turn off

• do NOT touch keyboard or manually turn off - any use of. computer functions are then written into the hard-drive

• if computer is on & displaying information, photograph the monitor output

• photograph cable connections before disconnecting

  • label connectors for reattachment

  • disconnect as few as possible to safely transport device

What should you do if you are collecting digital evidence and it is connected to a network?

• do NOT unplug

• refer to forensic computer specialist for retrieval

What should be taken note of on a recording device?

• manufacturer

• model

• recording settings

What should be noted when documenting a video system’s relationship to a crime scene?

• where are the cameras installed?

• how many are in service?

What should be noted when thinking about alternative angles/ directions of video cameras at a crime scene?

• are nearby businesses or residence within eyesight of the crime scene?

• could additional cameras catch the crime in progress?

Who was Edmund Locard? (1877 - 1968)

• “Sherlock Holmes” of France

• Locard Exchange principle

  • “every contact leaves a trace”

  • 1st to formalize crime scene reconstruction

Who was Hans Gross? (1847 - 1915)

• Criminal jurists & examining magistrate

• believed to be creator of criminalistics

• Adapted photography to become major part of criminal investigation

Who was Edward Heinrich? (1881 - 1953)

• “Wizard of Berkley”

• Combined chemistry w/ criminal investigation

Who all is required in crime scene reconstruction?

• police

• detectives

• CSI

• forensic specialists

• lab/ medical examiners

What is included in completed reconstruction of a crime scene?

• sequence of events @ a scene

  • before

  • during

  • after

Why is crime scene reconstruction important in a legal perspective?

• Can be legally challenged @ court

• Need to present vital information to jury based on…

  • specific principles

  • logic

  • experience in reconstruction

Why is bloodstain pattern analysis important?

• aid in scene recreation

• movements and direction of individuals can be shown

• sequence of events can be shown

• area of original patterns

• # of impacts

• determination of object used during crime

What is passive bloodstain classification?

• affected by gravity

• pools, drops, etc.

What is spatter bloodstain classification?

• blood has been projected

• cast off, misting

What is altered (transfer) bloodstain classification?

• blood comes in contact w/ a secondary surface

• wiped, smeared, smudged

What is firearm examination?

study of firearms

What is rigor mortis?

recognizable sign of death that is caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death

• limbs of corpse become stiff & difficult to move or manipulate

What is livor mortis?

• postmortem lividity

• caused by the settling of blood in the lower portion of the body, causing purple-ish red discoloration of the skin due to the action of gravity

• can be used by forensic investigators to determine whether or not the body has been moved