Question

1. A woman claims to have been assaulted by three men. Evidence was collected from the victim. Statements were taken from each of the three suspects and the victim. DNA samples were also collected from each person. The suspects were arrested and charged with the crime. The case proceeded to trial. Which was the role of forensic scientists in this scenario?

A) charging the suspects and proceeding to trial

B) taking statements

C) arresting the suspects

D) collecting evidence from the victim and the suspects


2. The bullet from a suspect's pistol did not match the bullet found in a murder victim. There was blood on the carpet around the murder victim, but none on the suspect. The suspect's car was seen at the residence of the victim on the night of the murder. Carpet fibers from the room where the victim was found matched those found on the suspect. Based on Locard's principle, which is a correct conclusion and why?

A) The suspect was at the house because witnesses saw his car.

B) The suspect killed the victim with his gun.

C) The suspect killed the victim, which is known because carpet fibers on the suspect matched those in the room where the victim was found.

D) The suspect was in the room where the victim was found because of the matching carpet fibers.


3. A woman was found strangled in the basement of her home where she lived with her husband. The crime scene was processed and investigators left. The next day, the medical examiner reported that a scalloped, woven belt was used to strangle the victim. The police want to search the house again to look for such a belt. Which statement is true?

A) The police need to get a search warrant, according to Michigan v. Tyler.

B) The police do not need a warrant, according to the Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

C) The police need to get a search warrant, according to Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals.

D) The police do not need a warrant because the house is still a valid crime scene, according to Mincey v. Arizona.


4. A man was robbed in an alley outside a busy restaurant. He was assaulted with a baseball bat that was left at the scene. There were bloody footprints leading away from him. He was treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital. Two witnesses saw the robbery. The suspect fled the scene. Which task should be done by detectives?

A) take photographs of the scene including the bloody footprints

B) secure the crime scene

C) interview the witnesses

D) collect the bat and the blood samples


5. Which describes the activity of an arson investigator?

A) determining the angle of a bullet shot from an assassin

B) identifying the cause of death

C) reconstructing an explosion or fire

D) identifying the clothing found in a crime scene


6. What was the contribution of Calvin Goddard to forensic science?

A) He wrote the first book on questioned document examination to determine forgeries.

B) He invented the comparison microscope.

C) He refined the process of comparing bullets to make ballistic comparisons.

D) He was the first westerner to perform an autopsy.


7. A witness is scheduled to testify about a new unpublished procedure for detecting gases from dead bodies. The judge summarily rules that the witness cannot testify because the procedure has not been accepted by the scientific community. Which precedent is this ruling based on?

A) Frye standard

B) Miranda standard

C) Daubert ruling

D) Kumho standard


8. Which is NOT a duty of a first responder when arriving at a crime scene?

A) immediately take evidence photographs

B) locate witnesses

C) render aid and assistance

D) secure the crime scene


9. Who has most likely previously been a uniformed police officer?

A) detective

B) district attorney

C) coroner

D) forensic investigator


10. Who initially determines the time of death at a crime scene?

A) paramedic

B) police officer

C) coroner

D) detective


11. What is the first duty of the crime scene photographer?

A) take overall photos of the undisturbed crime scene

B) secure the crime scene

C) take photos of the witnesses

D) take close-up photos of the evidence


12. Which is necessary when setting up oblique lighting to reveal details of a tire track?

A) flash attached to a camera

B) external light source

C) ultraviolet light source

D) infrared light source

Answer 1

1. D) collecting evidence from the victim and the suspects

2. D) The suspect was in the room where the victim was found because of the matching carpet fibers.

4. D) collect the bat and the blood samples

5. C) reconstructing an explosion or fire

6. C) He refined the process of comparing bullets to make ballistic comparisons.

7. A) Frye standard

8. B) locate witnesses

9. D) forensic investigator

10. A) paramedic

11. A) take overall photos of the undisturbed crime scene

12. C) ultraviolet light source