MCOLES Crime Scene Investigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When establishing a crime scene perimeter, what is the general rule regarding the initial boundary?
- Set it as small as possible to limit access
- Set it larger than needed and reduce it as investigation proceeds (Correct answer)
- Match the perimeter exactly to the visible evidence
- Establish a perimeter only after the medical examiner arrives
Correct 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.
Question 2: A detective suspects a crime scene has been staged. Which finding would most support this conclusion?
- Witness statements that match the physical evidence
- Bloodstain patterns inconsistent with the described events (Correct answer)
- Missing personal property reported by the resident
- Multiple fingerprints found throughout the house
Correct 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.
Question 3: What is the purpose of taking 'overall' photographs at the start of a crime scene documentation?
- To identify suspects captured on security cameras
- To establish the general layout and orientation of the entire scene (Correct answer)
- To document close-up details of individual pieces of evidence
- To photograph bystanders for witness identification
Correct 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.
Question 4: 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?
- Only on the hood of the suspect vehicle
- On the bumper, fenders, and any point of impact contact (Correct answer)
- Inside the passenger compartment
- On the undercarriage exclusively
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which technique is used to visualize latent fingerprints on porous surfaces like paper?
- Magnetic powder
- Ninhydrin reagent (Correct answer)
- Cyanoacrylate fuming
- Silver nitrate only
Correct answer: Ninhydrin reagent
Ninhydrin reacts with amino acids in sweat residue on porous surfaces, producing a purple-colored compound that reveals latent prints.
Question 6: A crime scene log is maintained at the entry point of every crime scene. What is its primary purpose?
- To record the names of all suspects in the area
- To document every person who enters or exits the scene (Correct answer)
- To list all evidence collected by investigators
- To record the chain of custody for the lead detective only
Correct 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.
Question 7: When documenting a crime scene with sketches, what does 'triangulation' refer to?
- Using three officers to search the scene simultaneously
- Measuring an item's location from two fixed reference points (Correct answer)
- Drawing three overlapping sketches at different scales
- Photographing evidence from three different angles
Correct 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.
MCOLES Crime Scene Investigation 3
When establishing a crime scene perimeter, what is the general rule regarding the initial boundary?