Criminal Investigation Fundamentals Flashcards

An officer arrives at a potential crime scene, a residence where a burglary has been reported. Which of the following is the most critical initial step for the officer to take to ensure the integrity of the investigation?

Answer: Secure the scene by establishing a perimeter and controlling access to the area.

The first and most crucial step in any crime scene investigation is to secure the scene. This involves establishing a perimeter, controlling entry and exit, and preserving the scene in its original state as much as possible to prevent contamination or destruction of evidence.

During a custodial interrogation of a suspect in a robbery, the suspect voluntarily states, 'I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I was just desperate.' This statement is best classified as what type of evidence?

Answer: An admission

An admission is a statement made by a suspect that falls short of a full confession, but acknowledges a fact that tends to prove guilt. In this case, the suspect admits to being involved but offers a justification, which is not a full confession to all elements of the crime.

Which of the following is NOT a primary objective of a preliminary criminal investigation?

Answer: To secure a conviction in court.

The primary objectives of a preliminary investigation are to establish that a crime occurred, identify and arrest suspects, and gather initial evidence and witness statements. Securing a conviction is the goal of the prosecution phase, which comes after the investigation is complete and relies on the evidence gathered.

An investigator is documenting a crime scene using photography. According to standard procedure, what three types of photographs should be taken to properly document a piece of evidence?

Answer: Overall, medium-range, and close-up.

Standard crime scene photography protocol involves taking overall (or long-range) photos to show the entire scene, medium-range photos to show the relationship between evidence items, and close-up photos to show the details of individual pieces of evidence.

Officer Miller is interviewing a witness to an assault. The witness is having trouble recalling specific details of the event. To help the witness remember more accurately, Officer Miller asks them to mentally revisit the scene, recall their emotional state, and describe events out of chronological order. This technique is known as:

Answer: Cognitive Interviewing

Cognitive interviewing is a method used to enhance a witness's memory recall by using techniques based on memory research, such as context reinstatement, focused retrieval, and varied order recall. The Reid Technique is an interrogation method for suspects, not typically for cooperative witnesses.

To ensure the admissibility of physical evidence in court, a meticulous log must be kept, documenting every person who handled the evidence from the moment of its collection. What is this documented record called?

Answer: Chain of Custody

The chain of custody is the chronological paper trail showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence. Maintaining a proper chain of custody is essential to prove that the evidence has not been tampered with and is authentic.