Exam #2

Question 1

What is Evidence?

Answer 1

• may be materials, marks, or fixtures at a scene

- most is unconsciously produced bi-products of behavior

Question 2

What did Edmond Locard contribute to Forensic Science?

Answer 2

• The Locard’s Exchange Principle

Question 3

What is the Locard’s Exchange Principle?

Answer 3

• no one can enter or leave an area without leaving traces of himself/herself/, picking up evidence from that scene and take it with them

Question 4

What are the two kinds of materials needed to be collected?

Answer 4

• questioned materials

- materials of known origin

Question 5

What are the goals of comparison?

Answer 5

• place a suspect at a scene
• place a suspect in company of victim
• place victim at other scene
• exonerate a suspect

Question 6

What are two types of characteristics of Evidence?

Answer 6

• Class Characteristics

- Individual Characteristics

Question 7

Define Class Characteristics

Answer 7

• properties of evidence that can only be associated with a group and never an individualized source
  (ABO blood Type, hair color, sex)

Question 8

Define Individual Characteristics

Answer 8

• properties of evidence that can be attributed to a common source with an extremely high degree of certainty
  ex) fingerprints, DNA, dental pattern, frontal sinus pattern

Question 9

What factors come into play when building a case?

Answer 9

• resources of law enforcement agency
• degree of confidence and capability of prosecutor
• to try a case is at the discretion of the prosecutor

Question 10

What is the Chain of Custody?

Answer 10

• all persons who have entered/left a crime scene must be documented (date&time)
• a duplicate paper trail must follow all evidence
• credentials of all individuals involved must be clearly documented
• any weak link may make some or all evidence inadmissible in court

Question 11

What are some other reasons for maintaining detailed records?

Answer 11

• Passage of Time: case may take months or years before it goes to trial; one should always prepare for the possibility of the need to serve as a witness
• Change of Individuals Assigned to a Case: documents are essential if a new investigator is assigned to the case
• Evidence may be kept for a long time: there is no statue of limitations on homicide

Question 12

What is the role of the Forensic Anthropologist?

Answer 12

• often a “late comer” to an ongoing investigation called in for decomposed, scattered, skeletonized remains
• locate/excavate buried remains as well as other widely scattered evidence
• assist in collecting/interpreting mass disaster scenes
• functions as a facilitator for the Coroner/M.E. or Law Enforcement

Question 13

What are some goals to a Forensic Anthropological Scene Investigation?

Answer 13

• Document conditions at the Scene: record all activities conducted at scene- establish chain of custody-follow an established mode of operations
• Maximize the Recovery: focus on what is pertinent to the case; use the right tools and procedures for the job
• Provide Useful Analysis and Interpretation: events surrounding criminal activity; site formation processes

Question 14

What are the Magic 7 Questions?

Answer 14

• Is it human or not? If not what is it?
• Is it ancient or is it modern?
• How old was the individual at death?
• What sex was the individual?
• What was the manner of death?
• What is the identity of the deceased?

Question 15

What are some guidelines to a field Investigation?

Answer 15

• Preserve the SCENE!!!
• Document Every Action and Condition-Sketch, Photos, Notes: formulate a plan of operations; anticipate pressure from the media and officials

Question 16

What are some threats to the scene?

Answer 16

• lack of recognition of what is potentially significant evidence
• curious citizens
• invasive media
• destructive nature of investigations
• impatience

Question 17

What are the duties of the 1st Officer on the Scene?

Answer 17

• Secure and Protect: immediate area (body location); all surrounding environs; all probable access/exit routs

Question 18

The 3 Zones Approach

Answer 18

• each has a clearly roped-off boundary
• 3rd (inner) Zone: active investigators only
• 2nd Zone: support and control personnel
• 1st Zone: visiting officials and limited press

Question 19

Who is required at the scene?

Answer 19

• 1st officer on the scene
• primary (lead) investigator
• corner/medical examiner, or their representative
• scene security personnel
• ONLY those forensic investigators actively engaged in processing the scene at that time

Question 20

Principle Investigator’s Duties

Answer 20

• Develop Investigation Strategy
• synthesize information from background work with ongoing investigations
• assign duties to others
• set guidelines for handling the media
• serve as the conduit for the outflow of all information
• determine what classes of material evidence are to be collected

Question 21

The Primary Scene is…

Answer 21

• The Focal point of where a Criminal Activity Took Place; includes paths of likely entry/exit; should include are likely to have significant evidence; should be large enough to work in and provide a buffer zone; arbitrarily set the the Primary Investigator

Question 22

The Secondary Scene is…

Answer 22

• Location(s) of Events Related to the Primary Scene; may be where a body is disposed; need to focus on evidence to link with primary scene

Question 23

Indoor Scenes are….

Answer 23

• Working Space that is at a Premium
• keep foot traffic out of primary scene
• consider all potential modes of entry/exit
• develop a floor plan: piece plot, measure, and map furniture, windows, doors, and evidence

Question 24

Outdoor Scenes are…

Answer 24

• More Expansive: harder to control conditions; less clear boundaries and entry/exit points; harder to restrict unwanted access
• plant and animal evidence; spider webs, bird nests, rodents, etc.; changes in vegetation types, broken vegetation, vegetation on clothing, etc.