MCOLES Crime Scene Investigation 5

Question 1

When collecting digital evidence such as a smartphone at a crime scene, what is the officer's first priority?

Accepted Answer

Place it in airplane mode or a Faraday bag to prevent remote wiping

Answer

Placing a device in airplane mode or a Faraday bag prevents remote access and wipe commands that could destroy evidence before forensic extraction.

Question 2

What is the purpose of using alternate light sources (ALS) at a crime scene?

Accepted Answer

To detect biological fluids, fibers, and trace evidence not visible under normal light

Answer

Alternate light sources cause many biological fluids, fibers, and latent prints to fluoresce, revealing evidence that is invisible under standard white light.

Question 3

An officer secures a crime scene and then leaves for a court hearing without transferring responsibility. Another officer later processes the scene. What problem does this create?

Accepted Answer

A break in the chain of custody and potential scene integrity issues

Answer

An unaccounted gap in scene security creates chain-of-custody issues and raises questions about whether the scene was altered during the unmonitored period.

Question 4

In a suspected arson investigation, where should an investigator look first for the origin of the fire?

Accepted Answer

At the lowest and most deeply charred area of the fire scene

Answer

Fire burns upward and outward from its origin, so the lowest and most deeply charred area typically indicates where the fire started.

Question 5

Which document formally records every transfer of a piece of physical evidence from collection through court presentation?

Accepted Answer

The evidence chain-of-custody form

Answer

The chain-of-custody form records each person who handles evidence and when, ensuring an unbroken documented record from collection to courtroom.

MCOLES - Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Practice Test

MCOLES - Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Practice Test

MCOLES Crime Scene Investigation 5