CPI Evidence Collection & Documentation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When collecting biological evidence at a scene, which packaging material is preferred to prevent degradation?
- Airtight plastic bags
- Paper bags or envelopes (Correct answer)
- Aluminum foil wrapping
- Vacuum-sealed containers
Correct answer: Paper bags or envelopes
Paper packaging allows biological evidence to breathe, preventing the moisture buildup that promotes mold and bacterial degradation.
Question 2: An investigator is reviewing recorded surveillance footage as evidence. What is the most critical first step?
- Edit the footage to remove irrelevant segments
- Verify the timestamp accuracy of the recording device (Correct answer)
- Enhance the video using digital filters
- Share the footage immediately with the client
Correct answer: Verify the timestamp accuracy of the recording device
Verifying timestamp accuracy ensures the footage accurately reflects when events occurred, which is foundational to its evidentiary value.
Question 3: What is the purpose of using a scale or ruler in evidence photography?
- To make photos look more professional
- To provide a reference for the actual size of evidence items (Correct answer)
- To indicate which direction the camera was pointing
- To identify the photographer
Correct answer: To provide a reference for the actual size of evidence items
A scale placed next to evidence in photos allows viewers to accurately gauge the size of items depicted.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a reliable written investigative report?
- Objectivity and factual accuracy
- Inclusion of the investigator's personal opinions as facts (Correct answer)
- Clear chronological organization
- Proper attribution of sources
Correct answer: Inclusion of the investigator's personal opinions as facts
Reports must distinguish between objective facts and the investigator's opinions, and personal opinions should never be presented as established facts.
Question 5: A witness recants their statement after initially cooperating. What should the investigator do with the original documented statement?
- Destroy the original statement to avoid confusion
- Retain the original statement and document the recantation separately (Correct answer)
- Replace the original statement with the new version
- Ignore both statements
Correct answer: Retain the original statement and document the recantation separately
Both the original statement and the recantation are relevant evidence; altering or destroying documents could constitute obstruction.
Question 6: What is the primary function of an evidence log or evidence receipt?
- To bill the client for evidence handling costs
- To create a record of what was collected, when, and by whom (Correct answer)
- To provide a list of witnesses at the scene
- To document the investigator's hours worked
Correct answer: To create a record of what was collected, when, and by whom
An evidence log creates an official contemporaneous record establishing what was collected, the condition of items, and accountability for each piece.
Question 7: When conducting open-source intelligence (OSINT) research, how should collected data be documented?
- Only keep printed copies of webpages
- Record the source URL, date/time accessed, and preserve screenshots or archived copies (Correct answer)
- Summarize findings from memory without source references
- Only document information that is publicly verifiable
Correct answer: Record the source URL, date/time accessed, and preserve screenshots or archived copies
OSINT documentation must include source URLs, access timestamps, and preserved copies because online content can change or disappear.
CPI Evidence Collection & Documentation 3
When collecting biological evidence at a scene, which packaging material is preferred to prevent degradation?