Evidence Handling & Chain of Custody Flashcards
7 cards from real MSCTC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence Handling & Chain of Custody flashcards as text
What does the term 'fungible evidence' refer to in law enforcement?
Answer: Interchangeable items of the same nature, such as currency or bulk narcotics
Fungible evidence refers to items like cash or controlled substances where individual units are interchangeable, requiring careful weight or count documentation rather than individual item tracking.
What is the primary purpose of a property receipt given to a suspect when items are seized?
Answer: To document what was taken and provide legal notification of the seizure
Property receipts serve as legal notification to the owner of what was seized, fulfilling due process requirements and creating a record of the seizure.
How should a digital device such as a cell phone be handled when collected as evidence at a crime scene?
Answer: Isolate it from wireless networks using a Faraday bag and document its power state
Digital devices must be isolated in a Faraday bag to block network signals that could allow remote wiping or data alteration, and their power state must be documented.
Which of the following actions would constitute a break in the chain of custody?
Answer: An officer taking evidence home overnight without authorization
Unauthorized removal of evidence from the secured property room creates an unaccounted gap in custody documentation and could render the evidence inadmissible.
What is the best practice when collecting trace evidence such as hair or textile fibers from a crime scene?
Answer: Use clean forceps and place each sample in a separate sealed paper envelope
Trace evidence must be collected with clean instruments and packaged separately to prevent cross-contamination between different samples from the scene.
Under what circumstances is it appropriate to release physical evidence to the defense attorney?
Answer: Only after obtaining court authorization or following established legal discovery protocols
Defense access to physical evidence must comply with legal discovery protocols or court orders to protect evidence integrity while honoring the defendant's constitutional rights.
What is the recommended sequence of steps at a crime scene before any physical evidence is collected?
Answer: Photograph and sketch the entire scene before any evidence is moved or collected
Comprehensive photographic and sketch documentation must occur before any evidence is disturbed to permanently capture the original context and position of all items.