MCOLES Crime Scene Investigation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When collecting trace evidence such as hair or fibers from a crime scene, which tool is most appropriate?
- Latex gloves pressed directly onto the surface
- Tape lifts or tweezers placed into paper folds (Correct answer)
- Plastic zip-lock bags sealed immediately
- Wet swabs stored in capped tubes
Correct answer: Tape lifts or tweezers placed into paper folds
Tape lifts capture trace fibers and hair effectively, and paper folds prevent static buildup and moisture damage that plastic can cause.
Question 2: An officer arrives at a burglary scene and notices tool marks on a window frame. What is the correct initial action?
- Measure the tool marks with a ruler immediately
- Photograph the marks before any other processing (Correct answer)
- Cast the marks with dental stone right away
- Dust the marks for latent fingerprints first
Correct answer: Photograph the marks before any other processing
Photography must be completed before any physical contact or casting to preserve the original condition of the evidence.
Question 3: Which pattern of crime scene search is best suited for a large outdoor area such as a field?
- Spiral search
- Zone search
- Grid search (Correct answer)
- Point-to-point search
Correct answer: Grid search
The grid search pattern provides thorough, overlapping coverage ideal for large outdoor scenes with multiple searchers.
Question 4: A victim's bloodstained shirt is collected at a homicide scene. How should it be packaged?
- Folded and placed in a sealed plastic bag
- Rolled and placed in a paper bag (Correct answer)
- Sealed in an airtight glass container
- Placed in a plastic evidence box with ice
Correct answer: Rolled and placed in a paper bag
Biological evidence must be packaged in breathable paper to prevent moisture buildup, which accelerates mold and DNA degradation.
Question 5: What does the term 'locard's exchange principle' mean in the context of crime scene investigation?
- Every crime scene must be photographed before processing
- When two objects contact each other, trace material is exchanged (Correct answer)
- Detectives must exchange case notes at every shift change
- Physical evidence must be exchanged between crime labs for verification
Correct answer: When two objects contact each other, trace material is exchanged
Locard's Exchange Principle states that every contact between persons or objects leaves a trace, forming the scientific basis for trace evidence collection.
Question 6: At a crime scene, an officer discovers a fired cartridge casing on the floor. What should the officer do before picking it up?
- Mark its location with a numbered placard and photograph it (Correct answer)
- Immediately bag it to prevent contamination
- Pick it up with bare hands to check for fingerprints
- Measure its distance from the door only
Correct answer: Mark its location with a numbered placard and photograph it
Placement markers and photography document the casing's exact location before collection, preserving spatial relationships in the scene.
Question 7: Which type of fingerprint is visible without the use of any development technique?
- Latent print
- Patent print (Correct answer)
- Plastic print
- Sublimated print
Correct answer: Patent print
Patent prints are already visible to the naked eye because they are made in a contrasting substance such as blood, grease, or paint.
MCOLES Crime Scene Investigation 2
When collecting trace evidence such as hair or fibers from a crime scene, which tool is most appropriate?