Free Sheriff Evidence Collection and Preservation Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of maintaining a 'chain of custody' for a piece of evidence?
- To determine who is responsible for analyzing the evidence.
- To document the evidence's history and ensure its integrity for court. (Correct answer)
- To track the cost of evidence processing.
- To inform the media about evidence found at a scene.
Correct answer: To document the evidence's history and ensure its integrity for court.
The chain of custody is a chronological paper trail showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of evidence. Its purpose is to prove to the court that the evidence has not been tampered with or altered in any way, ensuring its integrity and admissibility.
Question 2: How should a deputy properly collect and package a piece of clothing that is wet with blood?
- Seal it immediately in a plastic bag to keep it moist.
- Allow it to air-dry completely before packaging it in a paper bag. (Correct answer)
- Place it in a freezer until it can be transported to the lab.
- Spray it with a chemical preservative and seal it in a metal can.
Correct answer: Allow it to air-dry completely before packaging it in a paper bag.
Wet biological evidence, like blood, must be air-dried before being packaged to prevent mold, mildew, and bacterial growth that can degrade or destroy the DNA. After drying, it should be placed in a paper bag, not plastic, as plastic traps moisture and accelerates degradation.
Question 3: The first responding officer to a crime scene has a primary responsibility to:
- Begin collecting all visible evidence immediately.
- Establish a perimeter and control access to the scene. (Correct answer)
- Conduct interviews with all potential witnesses.
- Notify the press and provide a preliminary statement.
Correct answer: Establish a perimeter and control access to the scene.
The first officer's most critical duty upon arrival is to secure the scene. This involves establishing a perimeter and controlling access to prevent the destruction or contamination of potential evidence before the investigation can begin.
Question 4: When recovering a firearm as evidence at a crime scene, how should it be handled?
- By sticking a pencil or pen down the barrel.
- With a gloved hand on the smooth, flat surfaces.
- By the textured surfaces of the grip or trigger guard. (Correct answer)
- By wrapping it in a towel and picking it up.
Correct answer: By the textured surfaces of the grip or trigger guard.
To preserve potential fingerprints, DNA, and other trace evidence, a firearm should be handled by the textured surfaces, such as the checkered grips or trigger guard, where prints are less likely to be found. It must also be rendered safe and its condition documented before being moved.
Question 5: Latent fingerprints on a non-porous surface, such as a glass bottle, are most commonly developed and lifted using:
- Iodine fuming
- Ninhydrin spray
- Fingerprint powder and tape (Correct answer)
- Laser illumination
Correct answer: Fingerprint powder and tape
Fingerprint powder adheres to the moisture and oils left behind in a latent print on a non-porous surface. After dusting, the developed print can be lifted with special tape and placed on a contrasting card for preservation and analysis.
Question 6: When seizing a smartphone as evidence, what is a critical first step to prevent data from being remotely wiped or altered?
- Immediately trying to guess the passcode.
- Plugging it into a charger to ensure it doesn't die.
- Taking a picture of the home screen.
- Isolating it from communication networks (e.g., using a Faraday bag). (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Isolating it from communication networks (e.g., using a Faraday bag).
Placing a digital device in a Faraday bag or setting it to airplane mode (if accessible) isolates it from cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth networks. This prevents remote commands, such as a remote wipe, from reaching the device and destroying potential evidence.
Free Sheriff Evidence Collection and Preservation Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of maintaining a 'chain of custody' for a piece of evidence?