ACT 235 Evidence Collection 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Act 235, if an agent must collect evidence in an area with potential bloodborne pathogen exposure, what protective equipment is mandatory?
- Standard uniform with no additional precautions required
- Gloves at minimum; face shield and protective gown if splash risk exists (Correct answer)
- Full hazmat suit regardless of the amount of biological material present
- Gloves are optional if the agent has had a hepatitis vaccination
Correct answer: Gloves at minimum; face shield and protective gown if splash risk exists
OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards require gloves at minimum and additional PPE such as face shield and gown when splash exposure is possible.
Question 2: A lethal weapons agent collects a knife with suspected blood on the blade. Which packaging method is most appropriate?
- Place it in a sealed plastic bag to contain biological material
- Wrap the blade in paper, place in a rigid container such as a cardboard box, and label (Correct answer)
- Wrap the entire knife in tape to preserve the blood evidence
- Leave it unpackaged and transport it directly to the lab by hand
Correct answer: Wrap the blade in paper, place in a rigid container such as a cardboard box, and label
Bladed weapons with biological evidence should be wrapped in paper (breathable) and secured in a rigid container to protect the evidence and prevent injury to handlers.
Question 3: What does 'Locard's Exchange Principle' mean in the context of crime scene evidence?
- Evidence must be exchanged between agencies using standardized forms
- Every contact between two objects leaves a trace — the perpetrator both takes and leaves material (Correct answer)
- Officers must exchange evidence tags when transferring custody
- Forensic labs must exchange duplicate samples for independent verification
Correct answer: Every contact between two objects leaves a trace — the perpetrator both takes and leaves material
Locard's Exchange Principle holds that any physical contact between surfaces results in a transfer of trace materials in both directions, forming the scientific basis for trace evidence.
Question 4: When an Act 235 agent's evidence collection notes conflict with another officer's notes about the same item, what is the proper resolution?
- Destroy one set of notes to avoid confusion in court
- Both sets of notes are preserved; discrepancies are disclosed and explained in reports (Correct answer)
- The senior officer's notes automatically supersede all others
- Notes are combined into one document and both officers sign it
Correct answer: Both sets of notes are preserved; discrepancies are disclosed and explained in reports
Both sets of notes must be preserved and any discrepancies must be disclosed in reports, as suppressing conflicting documentation can constitute misconduct.
Question 5: Which type of evidence is MOST susceptible to degradation from improper storage temperature?
- Firearms and ballistic evidence
- Biological and DNA evidence (Correct answer)
- Paper documents and written notes
- Metal tools and hardware
Correct answer: Biological and DNA evidence
Biological and DNA evidence degrades rapidly at improper temperatures; refrigeration or freezing is required to preserve cellular material for analysis.
Question 6: An Act 235 agent is first on scene of a shooting and discovers the victim is still alive. Which action correctly balances life safety with evidence preservation?
- Preserve all evidence and wait for medical personnel before touching anything
- Render aid to the victim immediately and mentally note any evidence disturbed (Correct answer)
- Ask bystanders to move the victim away from evidence while the agent documents the scene
- Secure the perimeter and wait for supervisors before providing any assistance
Correct answer: Render aid to the victim immediately and mentally note any evidence disturbed
Life safety always takes precedence; the agent must render aid and then document any evidence disturbance caused by life-saving actions.
Question 7: When submitting collected evidence to a property room or evidence locker, what must an Act 235 agent do if the seal on the evidence packaging appears broken?
- Submit it anyway and note the broken seal only if asked
- Re-seal it without documentation to maintain a clean appearance
- Document the seal condition, re-seal with a new seal, and note both in the chain of custody (Correct answer)
- Discard the evidence as it is now inadmissible
Correct answer: Document the seal condition, re-seal with a new seal, and note both in the chain of custody
A broken seal must be documented in the chain of custody record; the agent then re-seals the package and notes both the original condition and the re-sealing event.
ACT 235 Evidence Collection 4
Under Act 235, if an agent must collect evidence in an area with potential bloodborne pathogen exposure, what protective equipment is mandatory?