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Segment One Exam (94%)

Terms in this set (49)

Investigator Martinez is documenting the scene of a murder. The victim was shot in the head while seated at his desk. There is blood splattered on the wall behind the desk. What kind of blood stain is this?
Impact
Investigator Robbins is analyzing the blood spatter at a crime scene. He is using a computer scan of the scene to draw straight lines from each drop of blood spatter. What is Investigator Robbins trying to determine?
The spot where a victim was standing when they were shot
IBIS was created by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the United States.
True
The primary concern for law enforcement when collecting evidence is making sure that the collection helps prove the suspect's guilt.
False
Why are soil samples typically collected from various spots at the crime scene within a 100-yard radius?
To establish a level of variation in the soil
The process of determining the chemical or physical characteristics of a piece of evidence with as much certainty as possible is called "identification."
True
Which field involves using techniques from science to analyze evidence to understand who committed a crime?
Forensic Science
Forensic anthropologists help identify the victims of disasters like fires, explosions, and plane crashes.

WRONG
False
The oldest forensic laboratory in the US was built by whom?
Los Angeles Police Department
Which forensic scientist is remembered for focusing on the issue of cross-contamination during the collection process?
Edmond Locard
What information can investigators learn from collecting the victim's clothing after a shooting?
The distance between the shooter and the victim
The barrel of a gun is also known as what?
Bore
Evidence may be placed into containers like manila envelopes, plastic pill bottles, plastic bags, and carefully folded paper.
True
A body is found deep in the woods. Investigators find that three of the fingers of the right hand and two of the toes on the right foot are missing. The rest of the skeleton is intact. It would be logical to assume that the body has been in the woods for at least how long?
1 year
What evidence found at the crime scene might cause investigators to search for a firearm?
Shell casings found on the floor
Comprehensive studies have shown that forensic scientists should look for between 8 to 16 points to establish identification based on fingerprints.

WRONG
True
In the 700s, the Chinese began thoroughly documenting and comparing fingerprints to use in crime detection.
False
What criteria might be used to establish someone as an expert witness?
All of the above
Determining the likelihood of two samples with the same characteristics being from two different sources is calculating
probability
A young woman is found murdered inside her apartment. Investigators collect a long shoestring that had been tied around her neck, as well as three long black hairs noted on the victim's white sweater. Her cell phone is recovered, and on it they listen to a threatening message from an ex-boyfriend. Consulting the doorman in the lobby of her apartment building, investigators also collect surveillance footage of the ex-boyfriend entering with the victim. In this story, which is an example of physical evidence?
The three long black hairs
Note-taking is important because they may be referred to again before a trial—sometimes months or years after the initial investigation.
True
When hair samples are taken, they are generally cut off about half way to the root.
False
Finding individual characteristics, like DNA samples or bullets, which belong to a particular object or person is necessary before a case moves to trial.
False
Which of the following is an example of a physical property?
The thickness of glass shards from a crime scene
Which of the following tools would not be used to examine an object's physical properties?
A Ph test strip kit
Soils refers to natural material from the earth, but not artificial material (like AstroTurf or asphalt).
False
What type of DNA is easiest to collect from cells?
Mitochondrial DNA
Investigator Thomas has a strand of hair from a crime scene but can't tell if it is from an intruder or the family dog. If the hair otherwise looks similar on initial examination, he'd want to examine the
medulla
The police come to Jackson's house and demand to search it. Jackson responds that they should leave and not come back without a warrant signed by a court that shows they have a good reason to search his home. He is exercising his rights as guaranteed under which amendment?
The Fourth Amendment
When a bullet is fired, gunpowder only travels back toward the shooter.
False
Which would be the best way to establish that a suspect has used a tool or firearm identified as used in a crime?
Fingerprints are found on the tool or firearm that match the suspect
Investigators are dusting the crime scene for fingerprints but are only finding partial prints. What amount of points do they need to have to be able to compare these partials to a suspect's prints?
8-16 points
Forensic pathologists and anthropologists are usually able to identify the exact moment in time that death occurs.
False
Upon arriving at a crime scene, Vinnie's partner secures the area. He begins drawing a rough sketch of the scene. What details would Vinnie include in his rough sketch?

WRONG0
All furniture or other items drawn to scale
Virtopsy uses radiologic methods like MRIs to image a victim in 3D and create a digital record to review later on.
True
While investigating a murder, all three of your suspects have solid alibis for various times during the week the murder occurred. It becomes obvious that determining the time of death is crucial in your ability to confidently crack the case. Which forensic scientist would you most likely turn to for assistance?
Forensic pathologist
Forensic odontologists might be involved in which of the following circumstances?
To investigate a bite mark on a victim's arm
What would scorch marks on fabric near a bullet wound indicate?
An extremely close shooter—within an inch or less
Good scientific analysis can overcome poorly collected evidence.
False
Blowflies are present in and around a body:
Within the first three days after death
What finding is an example of an indicative act?
Determining that the person had taken a shower right before they died
Investigator Charles is studying the body of someone who died in their sleep and finds that his assistant accidentally left the body facedown while he was away. Knowing that the person, in life, slept face-up, Investigator Charles can see that the blood is pooled at their backside. What has his assistant accidentally revealed about the victim?
The victim died at least 8 hours before the body was flipped
A bloody footprint or fingerprint would be considered a passive stain.
False
A forensic anthropologist is examining a very old skeleton. He notes that the pelvic bone is round and bowl-shaped. This leads him to believe that the person was
female
As officers of the law, forensic scientists carry guns, interrogate suspects, and help with arrests.
False
Proper collection, recording, and testing are essential to forensic work.
True
A murder victim has been found in an abandoned car beside a busy highway. What object would investigators most likely collect as physical evidence?
Strands of hair found on the victim's coat
Once serial numbers are ground off, there is no way to recover them.
False
The distribution or scatter of bones at a crime scene gives no indication about the time of death.
False
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