Assignment:
1. True or False? The analysis and evaluation of physical evidence is "flawless" when compared to testimonial evidence.
2. Fill in the blank. The interpretive value of evidence is a function of and the item's surroundings.
3. Multiple Choice. A stove burner that is on in a crime scene is an example of:
a. A predictable effect.
b. A functional detail.
c. A relational detail.
d. None of the above.
4. Multiple Choice. The three scene integrity issues are:
a. Addition, destruction and loss of material in the scene.
b. Addition, destruction and movement of material in the scene.
c. Addition, creation of post incident artifacts and corruption of material in the scene.
d. None of the above.
5. True of False. The only agenda a crime scene investigator has is the desire to determine the truth regarding what transpired in the scene and who was involved.
6. True or False. An example of an unpredictable effect is the movement of a weapon in the crime scene by a first responder, which remains unreported and unrecognized by the crime scene team.
7. True or False. Flexibility, as an ingredient of good crime scene examination means the ability to confront odd or unique situations with novel ideas or to handle contradictory and competing needs at the scene without reverting to mere arbitrary compliance with a checklist.
8. Multiple Choice. The forensic linkage triangle considers evidence in relation to which of the following?
a. Suspect(s), victim(s) and motive(s).
b. Suspect(s), victim(s) and scene(s).
c. Scene(s), opportunity and motive(s).
d. None of the above.
9. True or False? Class characteristics are effective for eliminating an item for inclusion in a group, reducing the necessity of conducting further time or resource consuming examinations.
10. Multiple Choice. Of the available methods for DNA analysis, which of the following is the best for individualization in forensic analysis?
a. RFLP.
b. PCR.
c. STR.
d. mDNA.
11. True of False. The 4R rule for glass fragment examination states that ridge lines are at right angles to the rear of radial fractures.
12. True or False. Cross contamination of serological evidence is never an issue when handling a single item of stained clothing.
13. Multiple Choice. Forensic analysis of a pistol casing includes evaluating:
a. Ejector marks.
b. Firing pin marks.
c. Breech block marks.
d. All of the above.
e. A and B.
14. True or False. Fingerprints differ in every individual except identical twins.
15. True or False. Mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) is currently used as a class characteristic that allows a DNA source to be included or excluded in a blood line on the maternal side.
16. True or False. Typical impression evidence includes shoe and tire marks, but also includes evidence such as tool marks.
17. True or False? The actions of the initial responding officer have little overall impact on the successful resolution of an investigation.
18. Multiple Choice. At any critical incident the initial responding officer seeks to:
a. Identify perpetrators and bring the site under control.
b. Bring the site under control and coordinate resources.
c. Bring the site under control and release the scene to supervisors.
d. None of the above.
19. True of False. Lifesaving is attended to after ensuring the scene is secure and evidence is preserved.
20. True or False. During the approach to the scene the initial responding officer must consider a variety of threats including: man-made hazards, natural hazards and possible on-scene suspects.
21. True of False. It is important to the investigation that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel be interviewed as soon as possible to determine who was there and what action they took in the scene.
22. True or False. In order to preserve fragile evidence, officers generally have the authority to prevent EMS from entering a scene.
23. Multiple Choice. The initial responding officer considers which of the following when defining where to place the initial perimeter:
a. Primary focal points, secondary scenes and body dump sites.
b. Primary focal points, avenues of entry and exit and secondary scenes.
c. Primary focal points, avenues of entry and exit and the presence or absence of a crowd.
d. None of the above.
24. True or False. Controlling the scene perimeter is easily accomplished by mere presence and vocal commands.
25. Multiple Choice. The five objectives of the initial responder at any crime scene include:
a. Document initial information, provide for emergency care, secure and control the scene, provide an initial statement to the media and release the scene to appropriate authorities.
b. Document initial information, provide for emergency care, secure and control the scene, provide an initial statement to the media and conduct a preliminary scene examination.
c. Document initial information, provide for emergency care, secure and control the scene, not become a casualty and release the scene to appropriate authorities.
d. Document initial information, provide for emergency care, secure and control the scene, conduct a preliminary scene examination and release the scene to appropriate authorities.
26. True of False. Controlling the scene and everyone in it requires cordoning off a section of the immediate scene and having witnesses wait there.
27. True or False? It is the responsibility of the crime scene technician to collect the evidence without altering the crime scene.
28. Multiple Choice. The six basic activities the crime scene technician engages in at the scene are:
a. Assessing, documenting, sketching, searching, collecting and analyzing.
b. Assessing, observing, documenting, searching, collecting and analyzing.
c. Assessing, sketching, photographing, searching, collecting and analyzing.
d. None of the above.
29. True of False. The order or sequence in which processing is completed has no impact on the resulting investigation.
30. True or False. Documenting the scene (which includes photographing, mapping and sketching) is an intrusive act in and of itself, requiring a specific order of activity.
31. True of False. There is only one right way to process the crime scene.
32. True or False. Assessing the scene in the first step taken in the processing methodology and a continuous step.
33. Multiple Choice. The concept of "going back" in the processing methodology means:
a. Returning to the office to obtain additional resources when required.
b. Returning to an earlier step, in order to bring a newly discovered item of evidence to the same level of processing as other items.
c. Rechecking areas that have been searched, to ensure no items were overlooked.
d. None of the above.
34. True or False. The activity of searching the scene is accomplished in several stages. Initial searches are visual, while later searches are physical.
35. Multiple Choice. During initial observations, the crime scene technician accomplishes an initial scan of the scene, this includes:
a. Looking for victims, central theme items, secondary scenes, avenues of entry or exit and fragile evidence.
b. Looking for victims, central theme items and avenues of entry or exit.
c. Looking for victims, suspects, secondary scenes and central theme items.
d. Looking for victims, suspects, central theme items and fragile evidence.
36. True of False. The statement "The call you got isn't the call you get" simply means that the initial information provided to the police is often incorrect.
37. In class, we learned about the famous case in the UK with the investigation of the murder of two victims - Linda Mann (Age 15) in 1983 and Dawn Ashworth (Age 15) in 1986. In this case, DNA was first used to:
a. Exonerate the wrongfully accused
b. Identify the offender
c. Eliminate thousands of potential suspects
d. All of the above
38. In the above case, what is the name of the scientist who developed the method to be able to utilize DNA for identification of an individual by comparing their DNA profiles?
a. Sir Alec Baldwin
b. Sir Alex Jefferson
c. Sir Alec Jeffreys
d. Sir Adam George
39. In class, we watched a documentary on the investigation of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and the trial of OJ Simpson. Describe one criticism that was made by the defense concerning the collection and storage of physical evidence.
40. In the documentary on the investigation of the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey, we learned that John Mark Carr confessed and was responsible for her murder because his DNA matched DNA collected from the clothing of the victim. True or False
41. In the Jon Benet Ramsey case, they developed a DNA profile from what item of physical evidence.
a. The suitcase under the window in basement
b. The broken glass of the window in basement
c. The victim's hands/fingernails
d. The railing of the stairway
e. None of the Above
42. This was one of the first major cases in which this type of DNA was collected in 2008 when items of evidence were re-examined:
a. Mitochondrial DNA
b. RFLP
c. Touch DNA
d. Paternal DNA
43. If CSIs had followed a crime scene methodology like that discussed in your book, Jon Benet Ramsey's body would have been discovered:
a. On December 25 by the parents
b. The next day when they went back to continue processing the scene
c. While dusting for fingerprints and using reagents to locate blood
d. During scene assessment and the initial walkthrough
44. In the documentary, we learned of the existence of the following physical evidence collected from the scene of the Jon Benet Ramsey investigation:
a. The pad used to write the ransom note was from the house
b. The pen used to write the ransom note was from the house
c. The paint brush tied to the rope around her neck was from the house
d. All of the above
45. In the documentary we watched on the OJ Simpson trial, blood on the rear gate at the crime scene was discovered and collected:
a. On the day of the scene investigation
b. Two days later
c. By a crime scene cleanup crew
d. Three weeks later
46. True or False - Jon Benet Ramsey died as a result of a massive 8" skull fracture.
47. Which of the following are accurate based on the documentary we watched on the Jon Benet Ramsey case? (Circle All That Apply - No Partial Credit)
a. The scene was not secure
b. Friends and family were inside the house washing dishes and using Windex on counter tops
c. The ransom note was carefully placed in evidence packaging immediately by the police and touched by no one
d. Jon Benet Ramsey's body was located by the local detective and the scene was fully documented before removal of the body
48. Name two items of forensic evidence recovered and the relevance of each item (i.e., interpretive value) during the investigation into the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. (****Note: Naming "Blood" will not be a correct answer. You must describe blood on what, from whom, and what did it mean to the investigation.)