Crime Scene Investigation Procedures Flashcards

What is 'chain of custody' and why is it critical for a CFL's forensic work?

Answer: The documented trail showing who handled evidence, ensuring it was not tampered with or contaminated

Chain of custody documents every person who handled evidence, maintaining its integrity and admissibility in legal proceedings by proving it was not tampered with.

When a CFL collects metal filings from below a drilled lock, how should these be packaged?

Answer: In a sealed paper envelope or rigid pill box with evidence tape and proper case labeling

Metal filings are best preserved in paper envelopes or rigid containers that prevent static buildup and allow residual moisture to escape without losing material.

What is the forensic significance of finding brass shavings on a floor directly below a lock?

Answer: It indicates drilling of a brass cylinder, providing physical evidence of destructive bypass

Brass shavings below a lock are physical evidence of drilling into a brass cylinder, identifying forced mechanical bypass as the entry method.

If a CFL discovers a padlock with shackle marks consistent with bolt cutters, where should forensic documentation be focused?

Answer: The cut face of the shackle, noting the angle, tool width impression, and any transferred metal

The cut face of the shackle shows the tool's bite geometry, cutting angle, and potentially transferred metal that can be matched to a specific suspect tool.

When should a CFL request a latent fingerprint examination before proceeding with lock examination?

Answer: Always, before any handling of lock surfaces, since fingerprint processing must precede other forensic steps

Fingerprint processing must always precede other forensic examinations because any handling of the lock surface destroys latent print evidence that cannot be recovered afterward.

What is a 'scene sketch' and why does a CFL produce one at an investigation site?

Answer: A scaled or proportional drawing recording the lock's position relative to the overall scene layout

A scene sketch provides a spatial record of the lock's location and context within the overall scene, complementing photographs that may lack accurate spatial relationships.