Crime Scene Investigation Flashcards
7 cards from real MCOLES practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Crime Scene Investigation flashcards as text
When establishing a crime scene perimeter, what is the general rule regarding the initial boundary?
Answer: Set it larger than needed and reduce it as investigation proceeds
Initial perimeters should be set larger than believed necessary because it is easier to reduce than to expand after contamination has occurred.
A detective suspects a crime scene has been staged. Which finding would most support this conclusion?
Answer: Bloodstain patterns inconsistent with the described events
Bloodstain patterns that contradict the stated sequence of events are a strong indicator that a scene has been arranged after the fact.
What is the purpose of taking 'overall' photographs at the start of a crime scene documentation?
Answer: To establish the general layout and orientation of the entire scene
Overall photographs capture the scene's context, spatial relationships, and orientation before any disturbance occurs.
An officer is processing a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run. Where should the officer look for transferred paint evidence from the victim's vehicle?
Answer: On the bumper, fenders, and any point of impact contact
Paint transfer in hit-and-run incidents typically occurs at the point of impact, which may include bumpers, fenders, grilles, and side panels.
Which technique is used to visualize latent fingerprints on porous surfaces like paper?
Answer: Ninhydrin reagent
Ninhydrin reacts with amino acids in sweat residue on porous surfaces, producing a purple-colored compound that reveals latent prints.
A crime scene log is maintained at the entry point of every crime scene. What is its primary purpose?
Answer: To document every person who enters or exits the scene
The crime scene log documents all personnel who enter or leave, providing accountability and helping identify any potential sources of contamination.
When documenting a crime scene with sketches, what does 'triangulation' refer to?
Answer: Measuring an item's location from two fixed reference points
Triangulation fixes an object's position by recording its distance from two separate fixed reference points, allowing precise recreation of the scene.