CPI Evidence Collection & Documentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When photographing a crime scene, what is the correct sequence of photography?
- Close-up, mid-range, overview
- Overview, mid-range, close-up (Correct answer)
- Mid-range, overview, close-up
- Close-up, overview, mid-range
Correct answer: Overview, mid-range, close-up
Photography should proceed from overall scene orientation (overview) to specific detail (close-up) to establish context before capturing details.
Question 2: Which type of evidence is considered the most reliable form of witness documentation in an investigation?
- Hearsay statements
- Signed sworn affidavits (Correct answer)
- Informal verbal accounts
- Anonymous tips
Correct answer: Signed sworn affidavits
Signed sworn affidavits carry legal weight because the witness attests to accuracy under penalty of perjury.
Question 3: A surveillance log should include which of the following at minimum?
- Only the subject's name and date
- Date, time, location, subject description, and observed activities (Correct answer)
- A summary written at the end of the day
- Photos only, no written records needed
Correct answer: Date, time, location, subject description, and observed activities
A complete surveillance log must capture contemporaneous details including date, time, location, subject, and activities to be admissible and credible.
Question 4: What does 'chain of custody' primarily protect against?
- Evidence being photographed
- Allegations of evidence tampering or contamination (Correct answer)
- Witness recanting testimony
- Loss of interview notes
Correct answer: Allegations of evidence tampering or contamination
Chain of custody documentation establishes that evidence was not altered, tampered with, or contaminated from collection through presentation.
Question 5: When documenting digital evidence such as a computer hard drive, what should an investigator do FIRST?
- Power on the computer to review files
- Create a forensic image (bit-for-bit copy) before any analysis (Correct answer)
- Delete irrelevant files to save storage space
- Email the files to preserve them
Correct answer: Create a forensic image (bit-for-bit copy) before any analysis
A forensic image preserves the original state of the drive so analysis can be performed on the copy without altering original evidence.
Question 6: In field notes, an investigator should write observations in which tense?
- Future tense to anticipate events
- Past tense to reflect completed observations
- Present tense as events occur (Correct answer)
- Any tense is equally acceptable
Correct answer: Present tense as events occur
Field notes should be recorded in present tense in real time to ensure accuracy and contemporaneous documentation.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'demonstrative evidence'?
- A witness's firsthand account of an event
- Physical items found at a crime scene
- Diagrams, models, or exhibits used to illustrate facts (Correct answer)
- Confessions recorded by law enforcement
Correct answer: Diagrams, models, or exhibits used to illustrate facts
Demonstrative evidence includes charts, diagrams, timelines, and models created to help explain other evidence to a judge or jury.
CPI Evidence Collection & Documentation 2
When photographing a crime scene, what is the correct sequence of photography?