Police Test Police Test Evidence and Investigation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of fingerprint is left on a surface by natural oils and perspiration from the skin?
- Plastic print
- Latent print (Correct answer)
- Patent print
- Digital print
Correct answer: Latent print
Latent fingerprints are invisible deposits of oils and sweat that must be developed using powder, chemicals, or other techniques.
Question 2: The Miranda warning must be given before questioning when a suspect is:
- Approached on a public street
- In custody and subject to interrogation (Correct answer)
- Questioned at the scene of a minor traffic stop
- Voluntarily speaking with officers at a station
Correct answer: In custody and subject to interrogation
Miranda warnings are required when a suspect is both in custody and subject to interrogation by law enforcement.
Question 3: A 'consent search' is valid when:
- The officer demands entry and the resident complies out of fear
- A voluntary and knowing consent is given by a person with authority over the area (Correct answer)
- The officer has reasonable suspicion
- A neighbor gives permission to search an adjacent apartment
Correct answer: A voluntary and knowing consent is given by a person with authority over the area
A valid consent search requires voluntary, knowing consent from someone with actual or apparent authority over the place to be searched.
Question 4: When interviewing a witness to a crime, officers should generally:
- Lead the witness with specific questions to confirm facts quickly
- Allow the witness to provide a free narrative before asking focused questions (Correct answer)
- Conduct the interview alongside other witnesses to save time
- Record only the information that matches the suspect description
Correct answer: Allow the witness to provide a free narrative before asking focused questions
Allowing a free narrative first minimizes contamination and captures details the witness considers important before focused questioning.
Question 5: Physical evidence found at a crime scene that links a suspect to the crime is called:
- Hearsay evidence
- Circumstantial evidence
- Direct evidence
- Associative evidence (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Associative evidence
Associative evidence (also called linking evidence) connects a suspect, victim, or tool to a specific crime scene.
Question 6: An officer responding to a burglary finds a window was the point of entry. What should the officer do with the windowsill area?
- Clean it to prevent smudging existing prints
- Avoid touching it and note it for the forensic unit to process (Correct answer)
- Immediately photograph it and collect any samples personally
- Board it up to secure the scene before documenting
Correct answer: Avoid touching it and note it for the forensic unit to process
Officers should protect potential evidence areas and request forensic specialists rather than risk contaminating latent prints or trace evidence.
Police Test Police Test Evidence and Investigation 2
Which type of fingerprint is left on a surface by natural oils and perspiration from the skin?