Chapters 1-4

Question 1

What was a communication provided by the perpetrators to the police in the Beltway Snipers case?

Answer 1

I am God.

Question 2

What are three most common activities performed in investigations?

Answer 2

1. Searching for victims and witnesses
2. Interviewing for victims and witnesses
3. Reading and writing reports

Question 3

Stings, decoys, undercover fencing operations, and stay counts are what types of investigations?

Answer 3

Undercover Investigations

Question 4

What are three reasons why the police solve so “few” crimes?

Answer 4

1. Nature and structure of crime
2. Police are reactive
3. Police power limited by law

Question 5

What is the process of collecting crime-related information in order to reach certain goals?

Answer 5

Criminal Investigation

Question 6

When investigating crimes like homicide, robbery, and rape, what type of investigation is typically being conducted?

Answer 6

Reactive Investigation

Question 7

Why do cases drop out as they progress through the criminal justice system?

Answer 7

• Crimes are not reported to the police
• Crimes are not solved by the police
• Some crimes are not a police matter

Question 8

What are solvability factors?

Answer 8

The particulars of a case that increase the likelihood of that case being solved

Question 9

What is the ultimate goal of the criminal investigation process?

Answer 9

To reduce crime

Question 10

In what situation can a follow-up investigation be conducted?

Answer 10

A case not solved during initial investigation that was screened for solvability factors

Question 11

Why can criminal investigations be seen like a puzzle?

Answer 11

• Some pieces are missing
• The pieces must be found
• Some pieces do not belong to this puzzle

Question 12

According to your text, why do people NOT report crimes?

Answer 12

• Claim the crime was a “personal matter”

- Claim the crime was “not important”

Question 13

Name three problems with evidence in criminal investigations.

Answer 13

1. Relevance
2. Too much evidence
3. Accuracy

Question 14

One of the problems with the thief-taker system was what?

Answer 14

worked for the rich and not the poor; worked in cooperation with thieves.

Question 15

The necessity of detectives receiving salaries is highlighted because of problems associated with the what?

Answer 15

Thief-maker system

Question 16

Making detectives reactive and assigning them to cases reduce the likelihood that detectives what?

Answer 16

could trick people into committing crimes

Question 17

The mid-1800s to the early 1900s in American policing has been characterized as what?

Answer 17

political era of policing

Question 18

The premise of _______ was that the bone structures of an adult did not change over the course of a lifetime.

Answer 18

Bertillonage

Question 19

What era of policing used investigative tactics like the dragnet roundup of suspects and the third degree?

Answer 19

Political era of policing

Question 20

What are three kinds of behavior associated with the third degree?

Answer 20

1. Beatings with a rubber hose
2. Placing a suspect in a sweat box for hours
3. Drilling

Question 21

What are three strategies mentioned in the textbook that provide opportunities for residents to share information with the police in solving crimes?

Answer 21

1. Tip lines
2. School liaison officers
3. Police involvement in community watch groups

Question 22

What are three developments in criminal investigation that has occurred during the community problem-solving era of policing?

Answer 22

1. DNA analysis as a method of identification
2. COMPSTAT
3. Large computer networks & data banks

Question 23

A _________ was a collection of photographs used for the purpose of criminal identification.

Answer 23

Rouges Gallery

Question 24

Rounding up the usual suspects often took the form of, or was also known as, a(n)?

Answer 24

Dragnet

Question 25

During the time of parliamentary reward, the work of detectives was most likely linked to which crime?

Answer 25

Murder

Question 26

A knife used in a homicide is best considered what type of evidence?

Answer 26

Real evidence

Question 27

What type of evidence is used to construct a psychological profile?

Answer 27

Behavioral evidence

Question 28

A statement of a 5th witness that provides the same details as for other witnesses is an example of ______.

Answer 28

Cumulative evidence

Question 29

Diagrams of a crime scene are considered what type of evidence?

Answer 29

Demonstrative evidence

Question 30

Hearsay is most often excluded from court proceedings because it is considered what?

Answer 30

unreliable

Question 31

The standard of proof needed in court in order to conclude that a defendant is guilty of a crime is ________.

Answer 31

Beyond a reasonable doubt

Question 32

_________ is evidence that is admissible in court, and it meets the rules of evidence.

Answer 32

Judicial evidence

Question 33

Dental evidence in fingerprints are often used as what type of evidence?

Answer 33

Identification evidence

Question 34

An eyewitness saw the defendant put poison in the victim’s food. The eyewitness statement about this observation is __________ that the defendant put poison in the victim’s food.

Answer 34

Direct evidence

Question 35

Amy previously threatened to kill Jake. This threat represents _______ evidence that Amy killed Jake.

Answer 35

Indirect

Question 36

The legal question what would a reasonable person have thought or done under these circumstances relates to _________.

Answer 36

Probable cause

Question 37

What does reasonable suspicion apply to?

Answer 37

stop and frisk searches

Question 38

What is the definition of probable cause as defined by the authors of your textbook?

Answer 38

- A standard of proof necessary to justify most searches and to make an arrest. - Convinces a reasonable person that particular circumstances exist

Question 39

Evidence that is excluded from trial because it was wrongfully obtained is known as _______.

Answer 39

Incompetent evidence

Question 40

What does the chain of custody refer to as?

Answer 40

the record of individuals who maintained control over the physical evidence from the time it was obtained by the police to when it was introduced in court.

Question 41

What amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?

Answer 41

The Fourth Amendment

Question 42

What is the good-faith exception associated with?

Answer 42

The Exclusionary rule

Question 43

What is the primary function of the exclusionary rule?

Answer 43

to deter unlawful police, conduct in search and seizure cases

Question 44

What does the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution relate to as?

Answer 44

Protects citizens against self-incrimination

Question 45

When do the police not have to advise suspects of their Miranda warnings?

Answer 45

Prior to a roadside questioning of a motorist

Question 46

Evidence that has some bearing on the case on some fact trying to be established is __________.

Answer 46

relevant

Question 47

The rationale for the ________ _________ exception to the search warrant requirement is that, without immediate action, the suspect may escape, may destroy evidence, or pose a threat to the police.

Answer 47

exigent circumstance’s

Question 48

When does an arrest occur by the police?

Answer 48

when a person is taken into custody for the purpose of prosecution or interrogation

Question 49

List three situations that warrant either reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

Answer 49

1. stop a vehicle 2. stop and frisk 3. order occupants out of a vehicle

Question 50

The decision in Miranda required the police to read suspects their Miranda warnings when a suspect is _________ and prior to _______.

Answer 50

in custody; interrogation