Evidence Collection & Forensic Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real CMI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence Collection & Forensic Analysis flashcards as text
When a marine investigator identifies a potential piece of evidence that may be subject to spoliation by vessel salvors, what immediate legal remedy is available?
Answer: Seek a federal court preservation order or litigation hold directing parties to preserve the evidence
A federal preservation order legally compels parties to prevent destruction or alteration of evidence and can be obtained on an emergency basis when spoliation is imminent.
A toxicology screen on a helmsman involved in a grounding returns a positive result for a prescription sedative. What additional information is critical before drawing investigative conclusions?
Answer: The therapeutic dose range, impairing dose, the detected blood concentration level, and whether the medication was prescribed
A positive result alone is insufficient — the dose-response relationship, the detected concentration relative to therapeutic and impairing levels, and prescription status determine actual impairment.
In a marine explosion investigation, investigators recover fragments of a suspected improvised device. What is the correct protocol for handling these materials?
Answer: Do not disturb the scene — secure the area and request ATF/FBI explosive ordnance disposal specialists before collection
Suspected explosive device components may contain live ordnance; EOD specialists must clear the scene before investigators collect any physical evidence.
What does the term 'spoliation of evidence' mean in the context of a marine casualty investigation?
Answer: The intentional or negligent destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence relevant to a legal proceeding
Spoliation refers to the improper destruction or alteration of evidence, which can result in adverse inference instructions against the responsible party in litigation.
A vessel grounded on a charted reef that was correctly marked on current charts. Which navigational evidence would be most relevant to establishing crew negligence?
Answer: The electronic chart system (ECDIS) audit trail showing acknowledged navigation alerts and the officer's plotting decisions in the hours before grounding
The ECDIS audit trail records alarm acknowledgments, route deviations, and operator inputs, directly revealing whether the officer received and ignored navigational warnings.
When analyzing paint transfer evidence from a contact collision between two vessels, which laboratory technique is most effective for matching paint layers between vessels?
Answer: Cross-sectional microscopy combined with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to analyze layer sequence and chemical composition
Cross-sectional microscopy reveals the number and sequence of paint layers, while FTIR identifies the chemical binder and pigment composition unique to each vessel's coating system.
A marine investigator is preparing an evidence log for a hearing before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). What must each entry in the log include at minimum?
Answer: Unique item identifier, description, location found, date and time collected, collector's identity, and all chain of custody transfers
A legally defensible evidence log must document the complete lifecycle of each item from discovery through storage, including every person who handled it.