OIC Evidence Collection & Preservation 3

Question 1

What does the term 'spoliation of evidence' mean in the context of fire investigation?

Accepted Answer

The intentional or negligent destruction or alteration of evidence that may be needed in litigation

Answer

Spoliation refers to destroying or altering evidence that could be relevant to litigation, which can result in legal sanctions against the responsible party.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the 'locard exchange principle' as applied to fire investigation?

Accepted Answer

Every contact between a person and a scene results in an exchange of trace materials

Answer

Locard's principle states that any contact between two objects results in material transfer, meaning perpetrators leave trace evidence and take some away.

Question 3

A fire investigator needs to collect a flooring sample suspected of containing accelerant residue. How large should the sample generally be?

Accepted Answer

A minimum sample of approximately 1 pint volume or about 500 grams of material

Answer

NFPA 921 recommends collecting approximately one pint or 500 grams of material to provide the lab with sufficient quantity for analysis.

Question 4

When documenting evidence with video at a fire scene, what practice is most important?

Accepted Answer

Provide a continuous narrated walkthrough to establish spatial context

Answer

A narrated video walkthrough establishes spatial relationships and scene context in a way that still photos alone cannot capture.

Question 5

What information must appear on the evidence label attached to a collected sample container?

Accepted Answer

Case number, sample description, location collected, date/time, and collector's name

Answer

A complete evidence label must include all identifying details—case number, description, collection location, date, time, and collector—to support chain of custody.

(OIC) Oregon Inspector Certification Practice Test

(OIC) Oregon Inspector Certification Practice Test

OIC Evidence Collection & Preservation 3