Unit 2: CSI

Question 1

What is the goal of a crime scene investigation?

Answer 1

The goal is to recognize, document, and collect evidence at the scene of a crime. Solving a crime crime will depend on piecing together the evidence to form a picture of what happened at the crime scene.

Question 2

Dr. Edmond Locard

Answer 2

Every criminal can be connected to a crime by small particles carried from the scene

Question 3

What is the Locard Exchange?

Answer 3

It is whenever two objects come into contact with one another, a cross-transfer of physicals evidence can occur. eg. someone rubs up against flower exchange of pollen, or if someone touches a glass then they will transfer their fingerprints

Question 4

What are two types of evidence?

Answer 4

1. Direct evidence: first hand observations (direct) ex. eyewitness, videos, confessions)
2. Circumstantial evidence (may not always bring a suspect): Indirect evidence that can be used to imply a fact but does not directly prove it. Example: finding a suspects gun at a crime scene is circumstantial evidence that they suspect was there

Question 5

Types of Circumstantial Evidence…

Answer 5

1. Physical Evidence: synthetic fibres, weapons, bullets, shell casings, paint chips, documents, imprints and prints (shoes, tires, etc.), took marks, soil, drugs, etc.
2. Biological evidence: body or body parts, body fluids, hair, leaves or other plant parts, natural fibres, feathers, wood
3. Trace evidence: small but measurable amount of physical or biological material found at a crime scene. ex. strand of hair, fingerprint, DNA, drop of blood, pollen, gunshot residue

Question 6

Class Evidence

Answer 6

It narrows evidence to a group of persons or things i.e blood types: can be A, B, AB, O. Finding one type at a crime scene narrows down the suspects to a smaller group

Question 7

Individual Evidence

Answer 7

Narrows evidence down to a single person or thing ex. fingerprints, handwriting, DNA, and sometimes physical matches

Question 8

What are the three types of evidence for bloody fingerprints

Answer 8

Direct or CIRCUMSTANTIAL

Physical or BIOLOGICAL

Class or INDIVIDUAL

Question 9

Importance of Evidence

Answer 9

• Can prove a crime has been committed and set the scene for the investigation
• Can back up witness testimony or prove it false
• Can link a suspect with a victim or with a crime scene
• Can determine the identity of people associated with a crime
• Allows investigators to reconstruct a crime

ex. blood splatter may show where suspect and victim were in relation to one another and indicate what happened in what order

Question 10

The CSI team includes…

Answer 10

• First police officer on the scene
• Backup police and possibly a district attorney
• Medics
• Investigator/ Detective
• Medical Examiner
• Photographer and/or Field Evidence Technician
• Lab experts

Question 11

What are the 7 S’s of CSI?

Answer 11

1. Secure the scene
2. Separate the Witnesses
3. Scan the scene
4. See the scene
5. Sketch the scene
6. Search for evidence
7. Secure and collect evidence

Question 12

What is the Innocence Project?

Answer 12

Created to reexamine post-conviction cases (especially in regards to eye witness testimony)

Question 13

Eyewitness misidentification

Answer 13

Mistaken identifications are the leading factor in wrongful convictions

Question 14

Double-blind Procedure

Answer 14

A “Double-blind” line-up is one in which neither the administrator nor the witness knows who the suspect is. This prevents the administrator of the lineup from providing inadvertent or intentional verbal or nonverbal cues to influence the eyewitness to pick the suspect

Question 15

What is Sequential Presentation of Lineups?

Answer 15

When combined with a “blind” administrator, presenting lineup members one-by-one (sequentially), rather than all at once (simultaneously) has been proven to increase the overall accuracy of eyewitness identifications

Question 16

What are instructions?

Answer 16

Instructions are a series of statements issued by lineup administrator to the eyewitness to deter the eyewitness from feeling compelled to make a selection. They also prevent the eyewitness from looking to the lineup administrator for feedback during the identification procedure. One of the recommended instructions includes the directive that the suspect may or may not be present in the lineup

Question 17

How does one compose a lineup?

Answer 17

Suspect photographs should be selected that do not bring unreasonable attention to the suspect. Non-suspect photographs and/or live lineup members (fillers) should be selected so that the suspect does not stand out from among the other fillers. Law enforcement should select fillers using a blended approach that considers the fillers’ resemblance to the description provided by the eyewitness and their resemblance to the police suspect

Question 18

What is a confidence statement?

Answer 18

Immediately following the lineup procedure, the eyewitness should provide a statement, in their own words, that articulates the love of confidence they have in the identification made

Question 19

What is a primary crime scene?

Answer 19

Where a crime has actually occured

Question 20

What is a secondary crime scene?

Answer 20

In some way related to the crime but is not where the actual crime took place

Question 21

Different types of searching for evidence

Answer 21

A pattern should be walked and location of evidence marked, photographed and sketched

• Spiral
• Grid
• Quadrant or zone
• Linear

Question 22

Does all evidence have to be properly packaged, using specific techniques and procedures

Answer 22

True

Question 23

Can you just pickup evidence with your hands

Answer 23

False; metal or plastic forceps may have to be used to pick up small items

Question 24

What is used for hairs, glass, fibres, or other kinds of trace evidence

Answer 24

Plastic pill bottles with lids

Question 25

What should you use for liquids and arson remains

Answer 25

Airtight unbreakable containers

Question 26

How would you keep blood stained materials

Answer 26

In wrapping paper, manila envelopes, or paper bags to prevent the growth of mold which can destroy the evidential value of blood. Air must be able to flow around the evidence to prevent moisture buildup

Question 27

Where should charred debris from a fire must be contained where?

Answer 27

In an airtight container such as new metal paint cans, to prevent any volatile petroleum residues from evaporating. This could be evidence of arson

Question 28

What 2 things do you need when collecting evidence

Answer 28

1. Chain of custody - A list of all persons who came into possession of an item of evidence 2. Evidence log - Description of evidence, name of suspect, name of victim, date and time of recovery, signature of person recovering the evidence etc

Question 29

Do you need to make sure chain of custody is documented in order for it to become admissible in court?

Answer 29

True

Question 30

What are control samples?

Answer 30

Control samples should also be taken from the victim for the purposes of exclusion (blood, hair, etc)

Question 31

What is a standard/reference sample?

Answer 31

Physical evidence whose origin is known, such as blood or hair from a suspect that can be compared to crime-scene evidence

Question 32

What is a buccal sample?

Answer 32

Cheek swab

Question 33

Are lab results sent to the victims family

Answer 33

False; they are sent to the lead detective

Question 34

Do forensic lab technicians process more than one type of evidence like CSI shows?

Answer 34

False; they process only one type of evidence

Question 35

What do crime scene reconstruction allow?

Answer 35

It allows the detectives to form a hypothesis of the sequence of events from before the crime was committed through its commission

Question 36

Does evidence lie?

Answer 36

Fasle; but it can be staged

Question 37

What should one do to determine if a crime scene is staged?

Answer 37

1. Treat all death investigations as homicides 2. Do the types of wounds on the victim match the weapon? 3. Could the wounds be easily self- inflicted? 4. Evaluate the behaviour (mood and actions) of the victim before the event ... etc

Question 38

Any removal of evidence from a crime scene must be removed from a crime scene in accordance with the Criminal Code of Canada

Answer 38

True

Question 39

What are the 2 parts to a search warrant request?

Answer 39

1. The actual warrant itself 2. The affidavit or the law enforcement officer which sets forth the facts as to why the search warrant should be granted

Question 40

What is a Hobbs Sealing Request

Answer 40

Means that the police agent conducting the search warrant wants to keep all or any part of search warrant affidavit from being revealed so as to proceed an informants identity

Question 41

A warrantless search can be conducted if...

Answer 41

1. Under emergency circumstances (danger to life or limb) 2. If there is immediate danger of the loss or destruction of evidence 3. If there is probable cause- the search of a person and their immediate property in conjunction with a lawful arrest 4. With the consent of the involved parties

Question 42

Kyle Unger... crime details, cause for conviction, time spent in prison, cause for exoneration

Answer 42

1. Was charged for the murder of a 16 year old girl named Brigitte Grenier 2. Hair follicle 3. 14 years 4. Hair follicle was not his DNA

Question 43

What is testimonial evidence?

Answer 43

What is said in court by a competent individual during their testimony such as witness speaking out to the court to inform the judge of what he or see had seen to maybe declare the defendant guilty or innocent ex. a witness testimony that has been deemed to be correct by the terms of the judge

Question 44

What is physical evidence?

Answer 44

An object or material relevant to the crime at hand and was more or less likely found at the crime scene for accuracy purposes ex. fingerprints, footprints, tire tracks, blood etc

Question 45

What is evidence?

Answer 45

One of the basic foundations of any criminal or civil proceeding

Question 46

What are common types of evidence?

Answer 46

Real, documentary, demonstrative and testimonial

Question 47

What does testimonial evidence help with

Answer 47

Testimonial evidence enables investigators to recreate a crime scene or develop a series of events as they occurred

Question 48

What makes evidence considered material?

Answer 48

If it is presented to prove a fact which is an issues in the court case ex. if the issue is a breach of contract, a witness whose evidence proves it was raining when both parties signed the contract is relevant but immaterial would be material if it proves that the defendant did not preform obligations

Question 49

What makes evidence considered relevant?

Answer 49

If it tends to increase or decrease the probability of what is introduced to disprove or prove ex. if evidence seeks to prove the accused bit the plaintiffs nose during a fight while an eye witness testimony would be deemed relevant

Question 50

What makes evidence considered to be competent?

Answer 50

If what is being presented meets some basic conditions of reliability. The showing that such evidence satisfies those tests or any conditions of admissibility is known as foundational evidence ex. when the conflicting side objects that the response to a thing, document, or question is without sufficient foundation, they are actually saying that the evidence is not competent

Question 51

What are the requirements to make someone a competent witness?

Answer 51

1. They must be under oath or any similar substitute 2. They must be knowledgable about what they are going to testify. This means they must have perceived something with their senses that applies to the case in question 3. They must have a recollection of what they perceive 4. They must be in a position to relate what they communicated

Question 52

Why is testimonial evidence different from other types of evidence

Answer 52

It is one of the only forms of proof the does not need reinforcing evidence for it to be admissible in court

Question 53

Blood, hairs, fibers, soil particles should not be removed from garments, weapons, or other articles of clothing

Answer 53

True

Question 54

Should you package items together

Answer 54

False; items should be sent separately

Question 55

What is "identification" of evidence

Answer 55

Is the process of determining a substances physical or chemical identity

Question 56

What is an observation? Why is it important?

Answer 56

An observation is the action of closely observing or monitoring something or someone, and its important to begin making assumptions of what happened

Question 57

What is the Chain of Custody?

Answer 57

Chronological documentation of paper trail that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis and disposition of materials

Question 58

What is beyond reasonable doubt

Answer 58

Prosecutor must prove "____", innocent until proven guilty

Question 59

What is considered a fact?

Answer 59

Something that can be proven