MSCTC Evidence Handling & Chain of Custody 2

Question 1

What does the term 'fungible evidence' refer to in law enforcement?

Accepted Answer

Interchangeable items of the same nature, such as currency or bulk narcotics

Answer

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.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of a property receipt given to a suspect when items are seized?

Accepted Answer

To document what was taken and provide legal notification of the seizure

Answer

Property receipts serve as legal notification to the owner of what was seized, fulfilling due process requirements and creating a record of the seizure.

Question 3

How should a digital device such as a cell phone be handled when collected as evidence at a crime scene?

Accepted Answer

Isolate it from wireless networks using a Faraday bag and document its power state

Answer

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.

Question 4

Which of the following actions would constitute a break in the chain of custody?

Accepted Answer

An officer taking evidence home overnight without authorization

Answer

Unauthorized removal of evidence from the secured property room creates an unaccounted gap in custody documentation and could render the evidence inadmissible.

Question 5

What is the best practice when collecting trace evidence such as hair or textile fibers from a crime scene?

Accepted Answer

Use clean forceps and place each sample in a separate sealed paper envelope

Answer

Trace evidence must be collected with clean instruments and packaged separately to prevent cross-contamination between different samples from the scene.

MSCTC - Michigan Sheriffs' Coordinating and Training Council Practice Test

MSCTC - Michigan Sheriffs' Coordinating and Training Council Practice Test

MSCTC Evidence Handling & Chain of Custody 2