Law Enforcement Evidence Collection and Crime Scene Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What should an officer do when packaging wet biological evidence like blood-soaked clothing?
- Seal it in an airtight plastic bag to preserve moisture
- Allow it to air dry before packaging it in a paper bag (Correct answer)
- Place it in a sealed plastic bag with a desiccant packet
- Freeze the item immediately for transport
Correct answer: Allow it to air dry before packaging it in a paper bag
Wet biological evidence must be air-dried before packaging in paper bags to prevent mold growth and degradation of DNA.
Question 2: The 'best evidence rule' in US courts generally requires:
- Expert testimony to accompany all physical evidence
- The original document be produced when its contents are in dispute (Correct answer)
- Two officers to witness evidence collection
- Photographs of evidence to be submitted before the physical item
Correct answer: The original document be produced when its contents are in dispute
The best evidence rule requires the original document rather than a copy when the contents of the document are at issue in the case.
Question 3: When documenting a crime scene, the CORRECT order of documentation is:
- Photograph, sketch, collect, notes
- Notes, photograph, sketch, collect (Correct answer)
- Collect, photograph, sketch, notes
- Sketch, notes, collect, photograph
Correct answer: Notes, photograph, sketch, collect
Notes are taken first, then photographs capture the scene as found, then sketches provide spatial relationships, and finally evidence is collected.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of class evidence rather than individual evidence?
- DNA profile matching a single person
- A fingerprint uniquely identifying a suspect
- A shoe print matching a brand and size worn by millions (Correct answer)
- A bite mark matched to a suspect's dental record
Correct answer: A shoe print matching a brand and size worn by millions
Class evidence narrows suspects to a group (e.g., all owners of a shoe type) but cannot identify a single individual.
Question 5: An officer responds to a burglary and finds a broken window. What should the officer do with the glass fragments found inside the building?
- Discard them as common debris
- Collect and label them as potential evidence with precise location documentation (Correct answer)
- Move them outside so investigators can examine them in daylight
- Photograph only and leave them in place permanently
Correct answer: Collect and label them as potential evidence with precise location documentation
Glass fragments can yield fingerprints, blood, tool marks, and directionality analysis, making precise collection and documentation essential.
Question 6: Which agency manages the National DNA Index System (NDIS) in the United States?
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (Correct answer)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Correct answer: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The FBI manages CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), which includes NDIS, the national-level database used to match DNA profiles.
Law Enforcement Evidence Collection and Crime Scene Management 2
What should an officer do when packaging wet biological evidence like blood-soaked clothing?