Law Enforcement Evidence Collection and Crime Scene Management

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of maintaining 'chain of custody' for evidence?

Accepted Answer

To ensure evidence has not been tampered with and is admissible in court

Answer

Chain of custody documents every person who handled the evidence, ensuring its integrity and admissibility in court.

Question 2

When securing a crime scene, officers should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Establish a perimeter to preserve the scene and limit access

Answer

Scene security must be established before any other action to prevent contamination or destruction of evidence.

Question 3

Locard's Exchange Principle states that:

Accepted Answer

Whenever two objects come into contact, a transfer of material occurs

Answer

Locard's principle is foundational to forensic science: contact between two objects always results in a transfer of trace material.

Question 4

Which type of fingerprint is visible without enhancement techniques?

Accepted Answer

Patent fingerprint

Answer

Patent fingerprints are visible to the naked eye because they are left in a contrasting substance like blood, grease, or paint.

Question 5

An officer should use what type of gloves when collecting biological evidence at a crime scene?

Accepted Answer

Latex or nitrile disposable gloves

Answer

Disposable latex or nitrile gloves prevent contamination of biological evidence with the officer's own DNA.

Law Enforcement Practice Test