Criminal Investigation Fundamentals Flashcards

An officer is the first to arrive at the scene of a residential burglary. The distraught homeowner is present and attempting to point out what was stolen. What is the officer's MOST critical initial responsibility?

Answer: Secure the scene to prevent the contamination or destruction of evidence.

The first responding officer's primary and most critical responsibility upon determining the scene is safe is to secure it. This involves establishing a perimeter and controlling access to prevent the contamination or destruction of potential evidence by anyone, including the homeowner or other officers. While interviewing the victim and gathering information are crucial steps, they must happen after the integrity of the scene has been protected.

Which of the following best defines the 'chain of custody' in a criminal investigation?

Answer: The chronological written record documenting the handling of an item of evidence from its collection to its presentation in court.

The chain of custody is the chronological documentation or paper trail that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of evidence. This unbroken record is essential to prove in court that the evidence presented is the same as what was collected and that it has not been tampered with or contaminated.

The protections established by Miranda v. Arizona are required when a person is subjected to which of the following two conditions?

Answer: Custody and Interrogation

The Supreme Court ruling in Miranda v. Arizona established that a suspect must be informed of their constitutional rights only when two specific conditions are met: the suspect is in 'custody' (not free to leave) and is being subjected to 'interrogation' (questioning designed to elicit an incriminating response). Questioning during a temporary detention or asking standard booking questions after an arrest does not automatically trigger the Miranda requirement.

An officer detains a person matching the description of a robbery suspect approximately 15 minutes after the crime occurred and two blocks away. The officer transports the witness to the detention location to potentially identify the suspect. This procedure is known as a:

Answer: Field Show-up

A field show-up is an identification procedure where a single suspect is presented to a witness, usually in the field, shortly after a crime has occurred. It is conducted to quickly confirm or eliminate a person as a suspect. Lineups, by contrast, involve presenting the suspect along with several other similar-looking individuals.

An investigator finds a suspect's fingerprint on a weapon left at a crime scene. By itself, the fingerprint is an example of what type of evidence?

Answer: Circumstantial evidence

Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact. A fingerprint proves the suspect touched the weapon at some point, but it requires the jury to infer that they touched it *during the commission of the crime*. Direct evidence, such as an eyewitness seeing the suspect commit the crime, directly proves a fact without needing an inference.

When writing an investigative report, which of the following is the most important characteristic an officer should strive for?

Answer: Presenting a clear, chronological, and objective account of the incident.

A professional investigative report must be an objective, factual, and chronological account of the events. It should be written clearly and concisely, avoiding jargon and personal opinions. The report must include all relevant facts, both inculpatory (tending to prove guilt) and exculpatory (tending to prove innocence), to ensure its integrity and usefulness in court.